What Happened to Josh Gordon and Tom Brady (New England Patriots era)?

The New England Patriots era for wide receiver Josh Gordon and quarterback Tom Brady represents two vastly different trajectories within the same organization. Gordon, a supremely talented wide receiver, arrived in New England via trade from the Cleveland Browns in September 2018, offering a brief but tantalizing glimpse of his potential alongside Brady. In his first season with the Patriots, Gordon recorded 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games, contributing to a team that would eventually win Super Bowl LIII, for which he received a ring despite his mid-season departure. However, his tenure was consistently marred by violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy, leading to an indefinite suspension in December 2018.

Gordon was conditionally reinstated in August 2019, returning to the Patriots for six games where he caught 20 passes for 287 yards and one touchdown before being placed on injured reserve and subsequently waived in October 2019. This pattern of brief returns followed by suspensions continued throughout his career with other teams, including the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans, before he played for the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL in 2023. Ultimately, Gordon announced his retirement from professional football in September 2024, his career a testament to unfulfilled potential due to off-field struggles.

Tom Brady, on the other hand, solidified his legacy as the greatest quarterback of all time during his two decades with the New England Patriots (2000-2019). He led the franchise to six Super Bowl championships, nine AFC titles, and 17 AFC East crowns, earning three NFL MVP awards in the process. His departure from New England in March 2020, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was a monumental turning point for the NFL. The move was driven by a desire for a new challenge and potentially more control over team decisions.

Brady's impact in Tampa Bay was immediate and historic. In his first season, he led the Buccaneers to victory in Super Bowl LV, securing his seventh Super Bowl title and fifth Super Bowl MVP award, an unprecedented feat. He continued to play at an elite level for three seasons with the Buccaneers, setting numerous NFL records, including career passing yards (89,214) and touchdowns (649). Brady initially announced his retirement in February 2022, only to un-retire 40 days later. He then definitively retired "for good" on February 1, 2023, after 23 seasons in the NFL.

Since his final retirement, Brady has transitioned into a new phase of his career. In June 2024, he was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in a special ceremony at Gillette Stadium. He officially began his role as the lead NFL analyst for FOX Sports in Fall 2024, a position he is expected to hold for the 2026 season. Demonstrating his enduring competitive spirit, Brady participated in "The Fanatics Flag Football Classic," a competitive flag football tournament in Saudi Arabia in March 2026. Looking ahead, Brady is scheduled to make his first return to Foxborough as a broadcaster in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season, calling the game between the Patriots and the Green Bay Packers on November 8, 2026. He is also slated to participate in Fanatics Fest 2026 in New York City from July 16-19, 2026.