Running back Frank Gore signed a one-day contract with the San Francisco 49ers, ending his NFL career where it started as a third-round pick (65th overall) in 2005.
Gore last played Dec. 27, 2020, when he gained 48 yards on 14 carries in the New York Jets’ 23-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Those 48 rushing yards gave Gore exactly 16,000 rushing yards during a 16-year playing career with five different teams.
That puts Gore at No. 3 all-time in rushing. The quick-hit portions of his potential Hall of Fame résumé include his selection as one of four running backs on the All-Decade team of the 2010s and five Pro Bowls.
Whenever a player of Gore’s production calls it a career, the phrase “next stop Canton” will get tossed around. And as one of the voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it’s my belief Gore will be enshrined.
The real question is: Will Gore be a first-ballot Hall of Famer? The short answer is it depends on who else is among the 15 finalists. If wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald doesn’t attempt a comeback, he and Gore will be eligible for the first time in the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. Gore’s clock started from his last season played, not his retirement announcement.
So start with the big-ticket items. The top 16 all-time rushers in NFL history who are Hall of Fame-eligible are already in the Hall of Fame. Then Nos. 19 (John Riggins), 21 (O.J. Simpson) and 34 (Joe Perry) are also enshrined.
The only running backs among those top 16 who are not enshrined are Gore and Adrian Peterson, who is still a free agent. For his part, Peterson was one of four players on offense who was an unanimous selection on the 2010s All-Decade team (Tom Brady, Joe Thomas and Marshal Yanda were the others).
If Peterson doesn’t play any more games, he would be eligible for the Hall of Fame beginning in 2027.
If Gore doesn’t make it as a first-time eligible…
Source : espn
