Frank Gore was having a special career even during his final year with the 49ers in 2014 at Age 31. Since then he’s continued churning and climbed to No. 3 on the NFL’s all-time rushing list to help bolster a resumé that will surely land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While there are detractors who believe Gore’s sterling career doesn’t belong in Canton, Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk believes Gore will join him among the league’s all-time greats when its all said and done.
Faulk on Thursday joined Joe, Lo and Dibs on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and was asked about whether Gore would one day don a gold jacket. His answer addressed the criticism that Gore was never the best back in the league, and countered with a tribute to the 16-year veteran’s longevity.
“If you can have a stellar short career and have some fantastic seasons like guys have had, and you let them in for that, then longevity at the position that we play has to get the same kind of — you have to look at it the same way,” Faulk said. “You have to look at longevity at the position. And here’s the reality — Frank wasn’t a guy that you were platooning. I mean, his days, you know, he was bell cowing it. He’s the down and dirty guy. He’s not the run outside, third-down back. No, he’s your hammer. He’s your hammer. And he’s consistently been that wherever he’s been.”
To Faulk’s point, Gore posted more than 200 carries every year between 2006 and 2017. His 12 seasons of 200 attempts rank second in NFL history only behind Emmitt Smith’s 14. Every player with 10 or more seasons of 200 carries is in the Hall of Fame. The lone exception is Adrian Peterson who should find his way to Canton.
His 3,548 rushes are the third-most all-time behind Smith and Walter Payton. His 4.33 yards per attempt is better than Smith’s 4.16 and .03 yards behind Payton.
He also holds the NFL record with 12 seasons with 1,200-plus yards from scrimmage. Seven of the eight players behind him are all in the Hall of Fame. Additionally, Gore is fourth all-time in yards from scrimmage. He’s ahead of Faulk and behind Payton, Smith and Jerry Rice.
Faulk went on to point out that Gore’s additional seasons aren’t just window dressing either.
“Think about last year. At his age last year he beat out (LeSean) Shady McCoy for the job in Buffalo. Beat him out!” Faulk said. “So I definitely look at Frank as a Hall of Famer.”
It’s also worth noting in 2018 with the Dolphins Gore was ripping off 4.6 yards per attempt on 156 carries before an ankle injury ended his season.
Faulk wasn’t ready to commit to Gore getting in on the first ballot, but he left no doubt that the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher will eventually join the NFL’s greatest team after he hangs up his pads.
“The question is ‘first ballot.’ While that is an honor, just being inside that room is special,” Faulk said. “Sitting in that room, looking at the last team you’ll ever be on knowing that you can’t be cut, you can’t be traded. Shoot, you can’t even die off the (expletive) team. You’re still on the team. It’s a great thing to know.”
The Jets are Gore’s sixth different NFL team. Whether he continues beyond 2020 remains to be seen, but it’s becoming more and more certain that his last team will be the one that wears gold jackets in Canton.
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