Legendary San Francisco 49ers Working Again Frank Gore Has Gone From Punishing Defenses to Getting ready to Punish an NBA All-Star

Running back on Frank Gore was the timeless wonder long before Tom Brady took over that coat. Best known for his time as the dominant running back for the San Francisco 49ers, Gore has played in 16 NFL seasons.

In an era where Brady and players like Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger seem to play forever, Gore deserves a little more credit in this regard.

He was one of the tougher running backs you will ever see, and he supposedly brings that toughness to the boxing ring.

Frank Gore is one of the toughest running backs in NFL history

Rank Gore # 21 of the San Francisco 49ers before a game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome | Michael B. Thomas / Getty Images

Gore was a physical running back, which speaks for the most physical position in sport. It’s hard for many running backs to make it into the league for four seasons, let alone 16. Gore has delivered penalties in each of his seasons. He was a terrifying combination of size and speed, and he was known more as a hammer than a nail.

Most impressive in researching Gore’s NFL legacy is the fact that he wasn’t just an honorary member of the teams he played on later in his career. He has been productive throughout his NFL career. In 2020, he stormed 187 times for 653 yards and two touchdowns for the New York Jets.

Gore stormed 3,735 times in his illustrious career, collecting an incredible 16,000 yards and 81 rushing touchdowns. As a five-time pro bowler, he influenced five different teams: The 49ers, Colts, Bills, Dolphins, and Jets.

He is the third largest rusher in the NFL of all time, behind Emmitt Smith and Walter Peyton. Without a doubt, he’s a future Hall of Famer.

Gore has entered the boxing ring and will fight NBA star Deron Williams in December

Utah Jazz’s Deron Williams # 8 against the Atlanta Hawks | by Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Although he hasn’t officially retired from the NFL, Gore has transferred his interests to the boxing ring. Despite taking calls from interested NFL teams last September, Gore has found his passion for boxing. Ian Rapaport reported that the running back has been saving up over the course of his NFL career to stay in shape, but now he’s training fully to fight.

“I just fell in love with how hard it is,” said Gore Rapaport. “I thought, ‘Man, I couldn’t fight.’ And I always like challenges. So I went on and did it and I saw how I got better and better. “

Gore’s training paid off with a place on the map of the Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury fight in mid-December this year.

He will officially have a four-round heavyweight match with NBA superstar Deron Williams, who has spent 14 seasons in the federation. Best known for his time with the Utah Jazz, Williams is a three-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-Pro. He also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA and is widely regarded as one of the best point guards in league history.

Although this will be the first official bout for both athletes, Gore has been sparring and Williams has trained with Fortis MMA in Dallas and apparently has a strong right hand.

The two fighters are contracted to perform at 215 pounds, but it’s worth noting that Williams has a notable height advantage. He checks in at 6-foot-3 while Gore, always known for being stocky, is 5-foot-9.

Gore will always be remembered for his time with the 49ers

Frank Gore # 21 of the San Francisco 49ers storms during the game against the Arizona Cardinals | Michael Zagaris / San Francisco 49ers / Getty Images

Although his career was long and he played for multiple teams, Gore was at the peak of his powers from 2005 to 2014 when he was the most dominant and consistent back in the league as a member of the 49ers.

San Francisco is a franchise with legendary names. Players like Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Joe Montana and Terrell Owens have all donned 49ers jerseys, and that doesn’t even include short stints from Randy Moss (2012), Deion Sanders (1994) and Rod Woodson (1997). .

The 49ers boasted one of the best players in NFL history, and when all is said and done, Gore will be on that list too.

Gore spent 10 seasons on the bay, collecting 11,073 yards and 64 touchdowns. He also caught 342 passes for the 49ers and scored 11 touchdown receptions.

He ran over 1,000 yards twice for four seasons in a row and stormed over 1,000 yards in eight of his ten seasons on the bay. He averaged 4.5 yards per attempt for the 49ers, which is more than enough to keep the chains moving at a constant pace, and all five of his Pro Bowl appearances came as a member of the team.

Despite becoming a little journeyman towards the end of his career, Gore will always have a special place in the history of the 49ers. A legendary place.

Gore’s retirement from football could come sooner rather than later after entering the boxing world. If he officially hangs them up, it will be as a niner.

“I started there and I’ll stop there when I’m done. Whenever I feel like I’m done, I’ll come back and retire as a niner, “said the running back in 2019.

Statistics courtesy of ESPN and Pro Football Reference.

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