ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos' backfield will feature another dynamic rusher in 2020.
Denver has officially signed running back Melvin Gordon to a two-year deal, the team announced Thursday.
Gordon, a two-time Pro Bowler, spent the first five years of his career with the Chargers.
"Obviously we had two good backs in Royce Freeman and [Phillip] Lindsay," President of Football Operations/GM John Elway said Wednesday. "We know that [Lindsay] is a guy that's had a great year for us. I know there's people going, 'Why do you need another horse?' Well, when you have an opportunity for Melvin Gordon to come in here, we felt like it was an addition to the team. He's a guy that obviously has had a lot of success in this league. He's scored a lot of touchdowns and has caught the football a ton. So we feel like with him — with Melvin, as well as Phillip — that we've got a great one-two punch, and we'll only get better in the backfield.
"Ultimately, we have to score more points this year. We've struggled on the offensive side the last two, three years, and so we've got to get better on that side. I think Melvin will be one of those key pieces to help us get better."
In those five years, Gordon compiled three seasons with at least 1,000 all-purpose yards. He crossed that barrier every season from 2016 to 2018.
In 2016, Gordon earned his first Pro Bowl selection as he rushed for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 41 passes for 419 yards and two touchdowns.
The following season, Gordon set his career best in rushing yards as he totaled 1,105 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and caught 58 passes for 476 yards and four touchdowns.
Then, in 2018, Gordon returned to the Pro Bowl after rushing for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns and catching 50 passes for 490 yards and four touchdowns in just 12 games. Gordon averaged a career best 5.1 yards per carry during the 2018 campaign.
"I just think he's a quality running back, both when he's toting the rock and when he's running pass routes," Head Coach Fangio said Wednesday. "I think he can pass protect. I think he's a very versatile running back in that he can do all the jobs a running back has to be asked to be done, and I'm excited to have him."
Gordon joined Lindsay, one of his new teammates in the backfield, at the 2018 Pro Bowl. Lindsay did not participate due to an injured wrist, but he earned the selection to become the first undrafted offensive rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl.
In his final season in Los Angeles, Gordon's season was cut short due to a contract dispute. Gordon missed the first four games of the season before returning from his holdout to face the Broncos in Week 5. He finished the season with 612 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and 42 catches for 296 yards and a touchdown as he split touches with Austin Ekeler.
Gordon finished his five years with Los Angeles with 4,240 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, a 4.0 yards per carry average, 224 receptions, 1,873 receiving yards, 11 receiving touchdowns and an 8.4 yards per reception average.
