Melvin Gordon has reunited with former college teammate Russell Wilson on the Denver Broncos this year.
Gordon re-signed with the team just before this year’s NFL draft on a one-year deal after initially signing a two-year, $16 million contract in 2020. Wilson, meanwhile, arrived in Denver via trade earlier this year.
Since reuniting, Gordon’s noticed a trait that’s stayed with Wilson since the duo were teammates at the University of Wisconsin in 2011.
“Just that winner’s mindset. He’s always been like that,” Gordon said on June 13. “The first time I met him when he came to Wisconsin, I was like, ‘Man, he just has that winner’s aura.’ He’s just carried it with him. That’s just how he is.”
Indeed, Wilson does have a winner’s aura. In 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, the QB appeared in two Super Bowls, winning one. Wilson-led Seahawks teams made the playoffs eight of the past 10 seasons. That includes five straight playoff-bound seasons to start Wilson’s career. In addition, that includes five straight playoff wins to start his career as well.
“I was talking to him today and said, ‘Man, Russ, you’re quiet,” Gordon added. “Are you going to smile a little bit?’ He said, ‘Man, I’m just focused,’ and I said, ‘OK, if that’s how you’re going to go about it, that’s how we are going to do it.’ He tapped in. He’s always been like that, and we kind of need that leader around.”
Wilson’s leadership helped the Broncos’ Super Bowl odds jump to the seventh-best this offseason, and the team’s win total over/under has been set at 10.5 wins. For reference, the Broncos haven’t had a double-digit win season since 2015.
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