The ex-Wildcat pass-catcher is back with an NFL squad.
Thomas Gordon’s college snap count may be done increasing, but his football journey just picked up a fresh set of downs, and he didn’t even have to change ZIP codes to do it.
The former Northwestern Wildcats tight end, who spent six seasons playing in Evanston, is landing back in the league after agreeing to a deal with the Chicago Bears. According to The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain, the Bears signed Gordon to their practice squad on Wednesday afternoon.
Gordon went undrafted in April and attended the Bears' mini-camp shortly after. But instead of fading out, Gordon kept grinding. He joined the San Antonio Brahmas on May 19, flashed enough during his brief UFL stint to stay on NFL radars, then re-entered the workout circuit. That hustle paid off when the Bears brought him back on August 6, before another round of roster math sent him to the waiver wire.
Gordon, 25, originally inked a deal with Chicago as an undrafted free agent in August. He made it through camp but was squeezed out during final preseason cuts.
Now, Gordon’s back in the building, and back in the mix.
With this move, Gordon becomes the 24th UFL player to land on an NFL active roster or practice squad during the regular season. He’s also one of 62 players to earn an NFL contract during this UFL-to-NFL cycle, even as that pipeline dipped by 13 players from last year.
Bottom line: Gordon’s still on the depth chart of opportunity.
Thomas Gordon was a steady chain-mover during his time with the Northwestern Wildcats, logging snaps in 54 games and posting a perfectly symmetrical stat line: 54 catches for 529 yards (9.8 YPC) and two touchdowns. He was the kind of tight end who did the dirty work and kept the offense on schedule.
Gordon spent six seasons in Evanston and even got an early look from the Chicago Bears this spring at rookie minicamp. He didn’t crack the roster coming out of that weekend, but he clearly stayed circled in the Bears’ scouting notes.
Those years at Northwestern weren’t exactly smooth sailing. Under Pat Fitzgerald and David Braun, the program lived the full NFL Sunday experience. The Wildcats won the Big Ten West in 2020 (7–2, 6–1) and finished second in 2023 (8–5, 5–4). Last season, Northwestern landed 16th out of 18 teams in the newly expanded Big Ten with a 4–8 (2–7) record.
Still, Gordon kept producing through the turbulence. Over his final three seasons, he totaled 52 receptions for 526 yards and two scores.
While no Wildcats heard their names called in the 2025 NFL Draft, Gordon still found a lane. He became the third Northwestern player from last year's roster to land an NFL practice squad deal, joining wideout AJ Henning (Dolphins) and fellow tight end Marshall Lang (Seahawks, Patriots).
Gordon also took the scenic route, spending time with the San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL and lining up workouts with multiple NFL teams. In the end, the road led him back to familiar territory.
Same city. Same grind. New opportunity. Gordon’s back in Chicago, officially on the Bears’ practice squad roster. And one solid week of practice away from turning this into more than just a footnote.