Frank Gore’s illustrious career isn’t over yet. The NFL’s No. 3 all-time leading rusher will return for at least one more season according to multiple reports. He’s set to sign with the New York Jets.
The Jets will be Gore’s fifth team across 16 seasons. He’s posted at least 125 carries and 500 yards in 15 straight years – both NFL records.
Gore looked to be in the twilight of his career when he left the 49ers after the 2014 season as a 31-year-old. At that point he’d amassed 11,073 career rushing yards. He’s gone on to play for the Colts, Dolphins, Bills and now Jets. Since leaving San Francisco his overall production has taken a dip, but he’s still averaging 877 yards a season and 3.9 yards per carry.
Joining the Jets reunites Gore with Adam Gase, who he played for in 2018 with the Dolphins. With Gase running the show, Gore was averaging 4.6 yards per carry on 156 attempts. Le’Veon Bell will be the lead back in New York, but a reserve role in an offense he’s thrived in may help Gore rekindle some of the production that put him above 4.5 yards per carry as a 35-year-old.
It’s highly unlikely Gore winds up passing Walter Payton for No. 2 on the all-time rushing list this season. He’s 1,379 yards off that mark and won’t see enough volume to get there in one year. It’s not like he needs to get to No. 2 to establish himself as one of the game’s all-time greats though. Everything he’s done over the last few seasons has just been polishing his Hall of Fame resumé.
New York is the fifth stop in Gore’s NFL career. Canton will be the last one.