NFL legend Frank Gore seals emotional return to San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have hired running back Frank Gore as a football advisor, with general manager John Lynch saying he wants to "tap into" the insights of a 16-year NFL veteran.
Gore spent his first 10 seasons with the 49ers and signed a one-day contract in 2022 to retire with the franchise that drafted him. The 40-year-old ranks third all-time in NFL rushing yards (16,000).
"He'll go out on the road with some of our road scouts to make school calls," Lynch said of Gore's front-office role. "He is a smart football mind, and we want to tap into it and he wants to learn from us, so it's a good thing for everyone involved."
Gore's move to an official position with the team had been anticipated. Lynch hinted in April that the hiring was imminent. "Frank showed an interest in coming in here and somebody made that opportunity available to me years ago, and I was really grateful for it," Lynch said at the time. "If someone is willing to put the time in and is given as much as he has to the organization, then absolutely we're going to open our arms. I think Frank learned a lot through the process."
The long-time pro became a fan favourite in San Francisco as a physical runner who found success despite not possessing the speed or agility of many peers. He was a bright spot on some 49ers teams that struggled in the mid-2000s before helping them make a couple of deep playoff runs under Jim Harbaugh. As a student of the game, it's little surprise the four-time Pro Bowl member wanted to remain involved in the organisation.
Joe Burrow backs Patrick Mahomes after Kansas City Chiefs reach Super Bowl
"I love evaluating talent and I love ball," Gore told the "SFNiners" podcast. "And they know that I know football players [and] what it's supposed to take to be a football player."
After Gore left the 49ers, he spent three years with the Indianapolis Colts before stops with the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. Even at an advanced age, he produced respectable numbers, rushing for 653 yards in his age-37 season.
Frank Gore spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. (Getty Images)Ultimately, he was destined to return home to San Francisco, where his career began.
"One of the very first things I told the 49ers organisation when they drafted me in 2005 was that they got the right guy," Gore said when he announced the end of his playing career. "I knew early on that I wouldn't let my college career define me in regard to injuries and that I would have to outwork a lot of people to get to where I wanted to be.
"After 10 years in San Francisco and 16 years in the NFL, I can confidently say that I put all I had into the game of football. Football was and is everything to me. From meetings and film study to practice and just being in the locker room, all of it meant the world to me. I am happy to officially close this chapter of my life and proud of what I was able to accomplish and the legacy I leave behind."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
