Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Frank Gore still has a lot of love for the San Francisco 49ers. He’s declared a never-ending desire to root for the organization that made him a third-round draft pick in 2005. Earlier this month, he signed a one-day contract with the team, officially retiring as a member of the red and gold.
Gore will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026. However, he has his sights set on returning to the game he loves before then, not as a player but in the front office.
“I want to stay around football,” Gore said this week on KNBR’s Tolbert & Copes show. “I’ve been talking back and forth with Jed (York), so I’m going to see about John (Lynch), being able to help the front office, help the 49ers, a team that did great, to get better. But I do really want to stay around football because I do like it.
“I remember Trent (Baalke) and Scot McCloughan … they used to bring me upstairs, watching film, watching tape of guys, and I enjoyed it. I do really want to do that, so me and Jed have been talking back and forth. So I’ll see about that.”
Gore remains the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher, rushing for 11,073 yards through 10 seasons with San Francisco. His 16,000 career rushing yards rank third all-time in NFL history, with only Emmitt Smith (18,355) and Walter Payton (16,726) ranked above him.
Gore had a chance to build on his impressive resume, but the eagerness to return to the playing field diminished with time.
“When I went to the Rams [game], when [the 49ers] played the Rams, I didn’t have no type of itch,” Gore shared. “I thought I would when I was on the sidelines. I really don’t. I really don’t miss it yet.
“I had my opportunities to play last year. Three teams called. When I knew I was going back and forth, should I do it or not, that’s when I knew I didn’t really want to do it because I never went back and forth when I wanted to play the game of football. That was the first time that happened.”
If an NFL front office like the 49ers’ comes calling, Gore may return to the league. For now, he will enjoy retirement.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Gore below.
Report it.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Frank Gore to sign one-day contract with 49ers on Thursday
The San Francisco 49ers’ all-time leading rusher, Frank Gore, will officially retire with the team on Thursday, per Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group. The former NFL running back will sign a one-day contract with the team that made him a third-round pick out of Miami in 2005.
“Gore has long vowed to cap his exemplary career as a 49er, and that coronation is expected to come with a 1 p.m. ceremony,” wrote Inman.
Gore ranks No. 3 on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 16,000 yards. The total has been surpassed only by Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton. The 39-year-old running back rushed for 81 touchdowns in his Hall of Fame-worthy
Frank Gore officially retires with 49ers, to be inducted into team Hall of Fame
Frank Gore entered the NFL as a third-round pick with the San Francisco 49ers in 2005. Seventeen years later, the fan favorite is calling it a career. On Thursday, the running back signed a one-day contract with the 49ers, officially retiring with the team that drafted him.
The 49ers also announced that Gore will be inducted into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame during the 2022 season, becoming the 31st member in franchise history to be inducted.
“We are thrilled to induct Frank Gore into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame, his rightful place among our all-time greats,” said 49ers CEO Jed York via a statement issued by the team. “Frank had to overcome many challenges upon entering the NFL and now leaves the
NFL fans debate: Is 49ers legend Frank Gore a first-ballot Hall of Famer?
Frank Gore will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026. There is no doubt that the NFL’s third-ranked all-time rushing leader (16,000 rushing yards) will get into Canton one day. Will it be in August of 2026, though?
That was the question presented by NFL Network this week. While Gore is a San Francisco 49ers legend and the running back will be inducted into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame during the 2022 season, is he a first-ballot inductee for the prestigious Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Frank Gore has 16,000 career rushing yards – third most in NFL history… Will he
49ers legend attends massive Empire event
By Sasha D. Robinson
May 30
San Francisco 49ers fans from all over the United States gathered at the “All Niner Empire First Annual Nationwide Barbecue” in San Antonio, Texas. The San Antonio Niner Empire Chapter hosted the three-day event. Niner Empire founder Joe Lenore said he always wanted to have a big barbecue with all of the fans across the world.
“What I wanted to do each year is to have one big NinerEmpire.com barbecue in different regions of the United States,” Lenore said. “You may come out to these other states, or Germany, London, or Mexico. It’s hard to find, but we could go around the corner and find some Niner stuff people coming out here together in Texas.”
Lenore, whose favorite 49ers player is Ronnie Lott, said he wants to have a representation of 49ers fans across the