Josh Gordon to still receive Super Bowl ring after Patriots win

New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon wasn’t with the team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when they won the Super Bowl on Sunday in Atlanta.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the 27-year-old isn’t celebrating about his impending championship ring.

Gordon — who had 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games for the Patriots this year — will indeed receive a championship ring after the Patriots’ 13-3 win in the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams, despite his suspension.

He posted about his new ring on Instagram after the game, too.

Gordon is currently in rehab in Florida after he was suspended indefinitely in December for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, his fifth suspension in his career. While his issues with drugs and alcohol are well known, it wasn’t just marijuana that led to his suspension this time, but rather multiple violations that stemmed from diluted samples.

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Gordon’s NFL career could certainly be over, but both he and the Patriots aren’t ruling out a return. The Patriots, who were unaware that the suspension was coming, have been paying for his rehab in Florida. The entire team seemed to embrace Gordon fully this season, too, and many Patriots players tweeted support for him when he was initially suspended. He was third on the team in receiving yards, and played a big part in the Patriots’ success this year.

Gordon also broke his social media silence after the Patriots won the AFC championship game to congratulate the team on Instagram — his first post since just before the suspension.

For him to return, he will likely have to show both the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell that he’s been “clean for a sustained period of time,” given his prior drug issues.

Only time will tell to see if Gordon gets another shot in the league and is allowed to report to training camp in July.

Regardless, however, it’s undeniable that Gordon deserves a Super Bowl ring. He’s more than earned it.

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