One of the most durable running backs to call it a career is Frank Gore. The 38-year-old has played in the NFL for 16 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers from 2005 to 2014, Indianapolis Colts from 2015 to 2017, Miami Dolphins in 2018, New York Jets in 2019, and Buffalo Bills in 2020. He was unsigned in 2021 which may perhaps contribute to and lead to the decision of his resignation today.
The 2006 Second-team All-Pro told the SFNiners Podcast that he planned to sign a one-day contract with the 49ers at some point in the near future so that he could retire as a member of the 49ers instead of any other team.
Gore’s career history
He finished his career with 81 touchdowns, 3,735 passes for exactly 16,000 yards, the third-most in NFL history behind Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. Gore rushes for at least 1,000 yards nine times and a total of 12 receiving yards and at least 1,000 rushing yards, which is the third-most in NFL history behind Smith and Jerry Rice, whom each has 14 runs.
Gore has a solid record throughout his career, missing just 15 games in 16 seasons. He played in a position in the NFL which was seen as the position with the most injuries and turnovers. His durability in the NFL is even more impressive considering that he had torn the ACL in the same knee twice during his college career.
Gore has a chance to enter the Hall of Fame to crown his career, largely thanks to his longevity. In 16 seasons, he made the Pro Bowl five times and was an All-Pro once. His illustrious career managed to land him in clubs following picked as third-round (No. 65 overall) out of his former university in Miami in 2005 to finally his professional career with the SF 49ers.
Playing in a total of 241 NFL games, his history in the NFL will surely be missed. Additionally, his love for his first team, the 49ers, is reported to continue as he is reportedly eyeing the 49ers’ front office.
Frank Gore says he will sign a one-day contract with the 49ers and retire from the NFL https://t.co/ItfM2ZvK59
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 3, 2022
Future plan
“I love looking at talent. I love evaluating talent and I love ball,” Gore said on The SF Niners’ YouTube channel. “And [the 49ers] know that I know football players, what it’s supposed to take to be a football player.”
Gore admitted that the five-time Pro-bowler will always love football. Perhaps, it is time for him to admire football from behind the table instead of playing on the field.
“We’re still trying to figure out when I’m going to do my one-day contract. To sign, do my retirement,” Gore said. He offered a timeline of a “couple months” for everything to settle until he can make official statements regarding the change.
“I told (owner) Jed York I always want to be a Niner. So we working on that right now,” Gore said. “So we’re working on that right now, and then we’re going to also sit down with me and my agent to talk about me working in the front office.”
Obviously, with his number of years of experience in the NFL, working in the front office with his favorite team could be a great idea and one way to stay in the NFL, without the possibility of getting more injuries.