Everyone in the NFL has a tremendous amount of respect for Frank Gore. He remains a fan-favorite in the Bay Area, even this week as the San Francisco 49ers prepare to face the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Gore is in his 16th NFL season. The future Hall of Fame running back figures to be a significant part of the Jets offense this weekend with Le'Veon Bell on injured reserve. Head coach Adam Gase confirmed this week that the 37-year-old running back would start against the 49ers — the team that drafted Gore in 2005.
Second-year defensive end Nick Bosa was seven years old when Gore took his first NFL snap. His defense will try to stop the veteran running back on Sunday.
Bosa, now 22, was asked about Gore after Thursday's practice and whether he can imagine still playing football 15 years from now.
"I definitely can't imagine that right now," Bosa responded.
Bosa has met Gore. Although, he wishes it had been under better circumstances.
"The first time I met him was in the locker room after the Super Bowl last year, so that wasn't the best situation," Bosa shared. "He just told me to keep my head up and gave me a few words of good advice.
"He seems like an unbelievable dude, but he's obviously the enemy this week, so I'm going to get after him."
While Bosa and his defensive teammates will be looking to prevent Gore from adding to his prolific career rushing numbers, it will be up to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to game plan for the Jets rushing attack.
"Frank, I've got a tremendous amount of respect for him," Saleh said on Thursday. "Obviously, I've never had a chance to really interact with him, but all I've heard from people around this building and people who've interacted with him in different buildings is that he is the first one in, last one out, takes unbelievable care of his body, and has such a deliberate approach to the game and the way he approaches every single day. So it's no surprise that when you have people who are built that way, they do last as long as they have.
"When you turn on the tape, he's still the same patient, physical, downhill running back that he's been his entire career. I'm pumped for him that he gets to continue to live out his childhood dream and excited for us that we get the challenge to go tackle him."
