Former Dolphins draft bust takes accountability for struggles

TL;DR

Dion Jordan, a former Miami Dolphins draft pick, reflects on his struggles in the NFL, admitting to a lack of discipline and accountability. His career was marred by substance abuse and poor performance, leading to multiple suspensions.

Key points

Dion Jordan was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2013.
He struggled with performance and substance abuse during his career.
Jordan faced multiple suspensions due to failed drug tests.

Miami DolphinsLas Vegas RaidersDion Jordan

In 2013, the Miami Dolphins traded picks Nos. 12 and 42 to the Oakland Raiders to move up to No. 3 and select Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan, whom the team was hoping would be a generational talent on the edge.

Instead, Jordan struggled as a rookie, recording just 26 tackles, five quarterback hits, two sacks and two passes defensed in 16 games. His performance led to questions about his future after just one year, and from there, it got worse.

“I wasn’t playing free,” Jordan said in a recent interview with "The Athletic." “I was in my head too much. You feel me? And then it affected my body... “I started playing the victim card. It was ‘why me?’ So I’m gonna drink more because I can’t get in trouble for drinking. And then there were party drugs... I should have been focusing on what it is to be a pro. I didn’t know how to structure myself, how to be disciplined.”

A failed test for a muscle relaxant turned to excessive drinking and then to MDMA, which resulted in a four-game suspension to start his second season. He failed another test, this time for marijuana, which got him another two games before he even saw the field in 2014.

Jordan missed the entire 2015 season due to suspension for a diluted sample. When he tried to come back for 2016, he suffered an injury that kept him from playing for a second straight year.

After Miami cut Jordan in 2017, he had a two-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks, where he played in just 17 games due to injury. Then, in the 2019 offseason, he was suspended for another 10 games for Adderall.

“A dumb, dumb mistake,” Jordan said. “It was trying to find a way around hard work to get what I wanted out of football because my body was essentially not allowing me to do what I wanted to do.”

Jordan had a couple of short stays with the Raiders and before retiring.

Q&A

What did Dion Jordan say about his struggles in the NFL?

Dion Jordan admitted he was in his head too much, played the victim card, and struggled with substance abuse, which affected his performance.

What were the consequences of Dion Jordan's substance abuse?

Jordan faced multiple suspensions, including a four-game ban for a failed test for a muscle relaxant and an additional two-game suspension for marijuana use.

How did Dion Jordan's performance impact his career with the Miami Dolphins?

Jordan's disappointing rookie season, where he recorded only 26 tackles and two sacks, raised questions about his future and contributed to his struggles in the league.