Frank Gore is a Bay Area icon, having played 16 remarkable seasons in the NFL—10 of them with the San Francisco 49ers, who selected him in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Gore's Hall of Fame-worthy career includes 16,000 rushing yards (third all-time), 81 rushing touchdowns, 19,985 scrimmage yards (fourth all-time), and 18 receiving touchdowns. Only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton have rushed for more yards.
NFL.com's Eric Edholm recently ranked the top five NFL Draft values of the millennium at running back, with Gore topping the list ahead of Derrick Henry, LeSean McCoy, Alvin Kamara, and Matt Forte.
"Former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan has said Gore was his favorite draft pick ever, and it's not hard to see why," Edholm wrote. "The 2005 class represented an era when backs were still considered potential top picks, as three (Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, and Cadillac Williams) were selected in the draft's first five overall selections. Yet, as the first pick of Round 3 that year, Gore found a way to match -- and in some cases, surpass -- those three backs' combined career NFL production."
Gore is the 49ers' all-time rushing leader, amassing 11,073 yards on the ground with the organization. The next closest player is Joe Perry, who tallied 8,689 rushing yards with the team. After his legendary run with the San Francisco 49ers, Gore also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets.
"Gore remained remarkably dependable and productive well into his late 30s, but he was at his best during his decade-long stint with the Niners," Edholm continued. "His relentless power, vision, and grit made him a fan and teammate favorite, as did his quiet demeanor off the field."
Gore surpassed 1,000 rushing yards nine times over his career. Edholm concluded that Gore's longevity and consistently productive NFL career make him an obvious choice for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.