Frank Gore moved into third place on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with a 65-yard outing Sunday for the Bills in a 20-3 win over the Broncos. Gore is up to 15,289, and passed Barry Sanders who finished his career at 15,269.
Here’s what the top-five looks like after Sunday:
1. Emmitt Smith, 18,335
2. Walter Payton, 16,726
3. Frank Gore, 15,289
4. Barry Sanders, 15,269
5. Curtis Martin, 14,101
The only active player even close to cracking the top five is Adrian Peterson, who sits at 13,861 after rushing for 27 yards vs. the Lions on Sunday.
Gore began his career with the 49ers as a third-round pick out of Miami in the 2005 draft. He spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the 49ers and posted a franchise-high 11,073 yards while earning five Pro Bowl nods.
After departing from San Francisco, he spent three years with the Colts and one with the Dolphins before signing with the Bills this offseason.
While Gore hasn’t been with the 49ers since 2014, no player has worn No. 21 since he departed. His number should be retired in San Francisco after his career is over, and he should cap his stellar career with enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.