Sonny Gordon

Denman Preston Gordon (July 30, 1965 – April 26, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

Sonny Gordon

No. 31, 18, 16
Position:	Defensive back
Personal information
Born:	(1965-07-30)July 30, 1965 Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died:	April 26, 2023(2023-04-26) (aged 57) Dublin, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:	Middletown (Ohio)
College:	Ohio State
NFL draft:	1987: 6th round, 157th pick
Career history
Cincinnati Bengals (1987)* Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1989–1990) Saskatchewan Roughriders (1991)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Third-team All-American (1986) First-team All-Big Ten (1986)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Gordon was born in Lynn, Massachusetts,^[1] but attended Middletown High School in Ohio. He was both a basketball and football standout, as well as president of his senior class.^[2]

He played collegiately for the Ohio State Buckeyes,^[3] where, as a senior, he was honored by Gannett News Service as a third-team All-American.^[4]

Gordon was selected by his hometown Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL draft,^[5] but was released at the final roster cuts. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and appeared in seven games for them.^[1]

Gordon was out of professional football during the 1988 season, but joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL the following year. He appeared in 33 games for the Tiger-Cats, over the course of two seasons, recording four interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He finished his career playing a single season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1991.^[6]

Gordon died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in Dublin, Ohio, on April 26, 2023. He was 57.^[2][6]