Andrew Buller-Russ
Great news, San Francisco 49ers fans, longtime team legend Frank Gore is returning to the NFL. Even though he seemed to never run out of gas, as you can imagine, the 40-year-old will not be picking up his cleats and taking the field again.
Instead, we’ll see the team’s all-time rushing leader work in a front office role, joining former NFL pro John Lynch upstairs, away from the action on the field. Gore announced the move himself on social media, and it’s since been confirmed by several media outlets.
Gore, a five-time Pro Bowl running back, enjoyed a 16-year NFL career, including ten seasons with the 49ers. In that time, we saw the former Miami (FL) star rack up exactly 16,000 yards rushing. This ranks third in NFL history, just 726 yards behind Hall of Fame great Walter Payton.
After beginning his career as the 65th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Gore needed just one season before becoming a full-time starter in San Francisco. A long, prosperous playing career came to an end at the end of the 2020 season, and he’d later sign a one-day contract to retire with the 49ers.
But that was just the end of his playing career. While he dabbled a bit in boxing, now a new chapter in his life begins. It is unknown exactly which duties he’ll be performing on a day-to-day basis, but being back where he’s renowned should be a great fit.
Gore also has a son who plays football, Frank Gore Jr., who’s committed to Southern Mississippi and is coming off a season where he produced 1,382 rushing yards in his third year on campus. We’ll see what’s in store for his senior season before assessing what the next step in his career might be.
Related: Super Bowl odds: Every team’s championship futures for 2023 NFL season
