Frank Gore’s career is officially over. The 39-year-old running back signed a one-day deal with the 49ers on Thursday and announced his retirement from the NFL after 16 seasons.
San Francisco also announced Gore will be honored this season with a spot in the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame.
“We are thrilled to induct Frank Gore into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame, his rightful place among our all-time greats,” said 49ers CEO Jed York said in a statement. “Frank had to overcome many challenges upon entering the NFL and now leaves the game not only as one of the best backs in NFL history, but one of the best football players ever. Frank’s 16-year NFL career is a testament to his durability, having played in more games than any other running back in league history. His grit, toughness and commitment to greatness earned him the respect of his coaches, teammates and opponents. We knew this day would come when Frank would retire a 49er and we look forward to The Faithful celebrating his induction into the 49ers Hall of Fame in Levi’s Stadium this upcoming season.”
Gore was selected in the third round of the 2005 draft by San Francisco after a college career at the University of Miami that was mired in knee injuries. He overcame those injuries to quickly carve out a spot in the 49ers’ backfield. After a rookie season where he rushed for 608 yards and three touchdowns on 127 carries, he took over the starting job in Year 2 and earned his first of five Pro Bowl nods while rushing for 1,695 yards and eight touchdowns.
He wound up rushing for a franchise-record 11,073 yards during his 10 seasons with the 49ers. Gore finished his career with exactly 16,000 rushing yards – the third-most all-time – in 16 seasons.
“One of the very first things I told the 49ers organization when they drafted me in 2005 was that they got the right guy,” Gore said in a statement released by the team. “I knew early on that I wouldn’t let my college career define me in regards to injuries, and that I would have to outwork a lot of people to get to where I wanted to be. After 10 years in San Francisco and 16 years in the NFL, I can confidently say that I put all I had into the game of football. Football was and is everything to me. From meetings and film study to practice and just being in the locker room, all of it meant the world to me. I am happy to officially close this chapter of my life and proud of what I was able to accomplish and the legacy I leave behind.
“I want to thank my entire family who was with me the entire way. I would also like to thank Denise and Dr. York, Jed York and each coach I was fortunate enough to play for. To my teammates, the ones I sweat and strained with every game, thank you for continuing to push me to want more and not settle for the status quo. Being inducted into the 49ers Hall of Fame, one of the most historic franchises in all of sports, is something that is hard to put into words. This organization will always be a part of me, one that I will forever associate myself with. I will talk about San Francisco as ‘we’ and ‘us’ for the rest of my life, and will support the 49ers and The Faithful in every way possible.”
Gore’s career landed him a spot in the 49ers’ Hall of Fame, and now the wait begins to see when he’ll be enshrined among the NFL’s greats at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
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