Frank Gore and Alex Smith were part of the same draft class and spent their first eight NFL seasons together with the San Francisco 49ers. Last year, Smith announced his retirement. Gore plans to retire this year, ending an illustrious 16-year Hall of Fame-worthy NFL career.
On Sunday, Gore's former 49ers teammate offered his congratulations.
"Hands down, one of the greatest honors of my career was getting to share the backfield with [Frank Gore] for so many years," Smith posted on Instagram (h/t Angelina Martin of NBC Sports). "The greatest teammate and competitor. The definition of tough. One of the best to ever do it. Congratulations brother!!"
Smith was the No. 1 overall pick in 2005. San Francisco made Gore a third-round selection in the same draft.
During an interview on Bovada's Instagram account, Gore said he plans to call it a career, sign a one-day contract with the 49ers, and hopes to work in the front office.
"We're still trying to figure out when I'm going to do my one-day contract [with the 49ers], to sign, do my retirement," Gore told Heidi Watney. "I told [49ers CEO] Jed York that I always wanted to be a Niner, so we're working on that right now.
"And then we're going to also sit down, me and my agent, just talk about me working in the front office because I love looking at talent, and I love evaluating talent, and I love ball. And they know that I know football players, what it takes to be a football player."
Gore remains the 49ers' all-time leading rusher with 11,073 yards through his 10 seasons with the team. His 16,000 rushing yards rank No. 3 all-time among NFL running backs.
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