Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Frank Gore on return to Bay Area: “I wish we were playing the Niners”
Dec 21, 2016 at 12:11 PM
•
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Like many ex-49ers, Frank Gore has continued to find success following his career in San Francisco. He is just 109 yards shy of achieving his ninth career 1,000-yard rushing season.
Gore's Indianapolis Colts are headed to the Bay Area this weekend. However, it's not to play the 49ers in Santa Clara. They will be headed to the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum to face the AFC West leading Raiders. What does the former 49ers starting running back thing about the matchup? "I wish we were playing the Niners," Gore told the media today while smiling.
We have to assume the comment was not made because Gore would love to see some of his former teammates. And it is definitely not to see some of his former coaches (well, maybe Tom Rathman). The coaching staff he was familiar with is long gone. The Raiders are 11-3 and are one of just two teams in the AFC that have already clinched a playoff birth. The 49ers have won 10 fewer games than the Raiders and sit at 1-13. Obviously, the Colts' matchup this weekend is a bigger challenge than had a trip to Levi's Stadium been on the schedule instead.
Gore remains passionate about the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Last week, another former 49ers great shared what Gore had to say to him about the current situation in Santa Clara during a Monday Night Football game earlier this season. "Frank Gore grabbed me and he wanted to just scream and yell about it,"
Steve Young said (as transcribed by Kevin Jones of KNBR). "Here he is, what, three years out from the NFC (championship) and he (has) so much emotion, negative emotion, about what's going on and who's in…And I will not break that confidence, but clearly, the guy is still super upset. Just grabbed me out of nowhere and wanted to talk about it."
During his career with the 49ers, Gore rushed for a franchise record 11,073 yards through 10 seasons. No 49ers running back in franchise history has had more 1,000-yard rushing seasons than Gore, who had eight. Meanwhile, his former team is on pace for possibly their worst season ever. No 49ers team in franchise history has finished a season with just a single win. That could happen this year. No 49ers defense had allowed more than 2,363 yards rushing, a record previously set in 1978. This year's 49ers defense has eclipsed that and still have two games remaining.
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
Draft Watch: Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley visiting 49ers on Wednesday
The San Francisco 49ers are hosting several draft prospects this week as the deadline for pre-draft visits draws near. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the team will host former Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley on Wednesday.
Corley is expected to be a Day 2 pick. San Francisco owns two selections on Day 2—the No. 63 overall pick in the second round and the No. 94 overall pick in the third round. Currently, the receiver is visiting with the Seattle Seahawks.
Western Kentucky @WKUFootball receiver Malachi Worley
Rapoport: 49ers send clear message to teams inquiring about Brandon Aiyuk
Ian Rapoport didn't offer much of an update on the ongoing contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and their standout wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk. However, the NFL insider emphasized one thing: The team is not entertaining trade discussions at this juncture.
Reacting to Aiyuk's decision to unfollow the 49ers on Instagram, Rapoport couldn't help but chuckle at the latest development. This practice has become commonplace among players who are unhappy with their contract situations. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel similarly took this action in 2022 before requesting to be traded just before the draft.
Things have yet to escalate that far with Aiyuk, but Rapoport sees his
Mike Silver on how Deebo Samuel's contract might be the starting point for a Brandon Aiyuk extension
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, it's common for the rumor mill to start churning, especially with players who are actively seeking a new contract. It was just two short years ago that WR Deebo Samuel requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers prior to draft day, only for cooler heads to prevail and eventually agree to a new deal.
Now, it's WR Brandon Aiyuk's turn to try and get paid and rumors surfaced over the weekend that he too would request to be dealt. While that report was quickly shot down by his agent, there's still a lot of discussion about Aiyuk's future and if other teams will come calling on draft night.
Legendary columnist Mike Silver joined
