Frank Gore wanted to make sure that he would retire with the San Francisco 49ers.
He should wear the team’s uniform, wherein he became a household name.
With the 49ers, he became a five-time Pro Bowler and a one-time Second-Team All-Pro.
Gore went on to play for four more teams after the Niners, but he couldn’t replicate his success with the five-time Super Bowl champions.
Before making his professional boxing debut on May 14, he signed a one-day contract to retire in San Francisco.
He will be leaving the game with exactly 16,000 yards, making him third overall on the all-time list.
Stopping at that number might be his way of paying homage to the late Walter Payton, who ranks second all-time with 16,726.
But it won’t be long before he joins Payton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as The Athletic’s David Lombardi revealed the reasons for Gore’s future enshrinement.
Frank Gore overcame 2 devastating ACL tears on the same knee before even reaching the pros to amass 3,700 carries/16,000 yards (#3 all-time) in NFL.
Among those who understand how miraculous of an athletic feat that is, there’s no legit argument that Gore isn’t a Hall of Famer
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) April 4, 2022
Lombardi tweeted, “Frank Gore overcame 2 devastating ACL tears on the same knee before even reaching the pros to amass 3,700 carries/16,000 yards (#3 all-time) in NFL.”
That debilitating knee injury has become a death knell for several running backs in the past.
His NFL career could have been short and uneventful if he didn’t recover.
Instead, Gore worked through those injuries to build a successful professional career.
He Will Have His Bust In Canton
Gore will become a first-ballot Hall of Famer because of his personal achievements.
Jerome Bettis, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Barry Sanders are all in the Hall of Fame, even if they have fewer rushing yards than Gore.
But his story of fighting through adversity and defying the odds makes him a worthy recipient of a bronze bust and a golden jacket.
It would be a travesty if he wasn’t elected to the Class of 2027.
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