Due to his service out in the community packing meals for 9/11 Day in Los Angeles, Melvin Gordon was named the Week 1 NFLPA Community MVP.
The running back was truly humbled and honored upon finding out the news.
"It means a lot," Gordon said of the honor. "It was cool, and I enjoyed it. I guess it's always cool to get rewarded for something good, but I didn't expect it!"
Number 28 is no stranger to helping those who need aid the most. He has participated in Play60 events and the Chargers' annual back to school shoe and backpack distribution. This year, he started Melvin Gordon's Beyond the Flash Foundation which is aimed at fighting childhood hunger.
In honor of Gordon being named this week's Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his foundation or charity of choice along with an in-kind donation to him on behalf of the NFLPA's supporting partner Delta Private Jets. A limited-edition bobblehead will also be made of Gordon and sold by the NFLPA's supporting partner, Forever Collectibles. The NFLPA will donate part of the proceeds from this collector's item to the player's charity or foundation of choice.
For Gordon, being honored for something he did means the world, and he hopes he can inspire others on the field to make a difference off of it.
"It's cool to get acknowledged (for something in the community)," he added. "It shouldn't motivate you to want to do it more; you should already be motivated enough to go out there and serve the community. But, you look at it as a blessing. The good thing is, people recognize it and if you put it out there, other players might see it and it might motivate other guys. I think that's a pro to it."
Gordon, along with the other 2018 Community MVPs including Houston Texans' Tyrann Mathieu who was the Week 0 MVP, will become eligible for this year's Alan Page Community Award, which is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player.
