Frank Gore
Encyclopedia
Franklin Gore is an American football
running back
who plays for the San Francisco 49ers
of the National Football League
. He played college football
at the University of Miami
. NFL Network
analysts have nicknamed Gore "The Inconvenient Truth".
, where he excelled as a running back. He had two notable record-breaking games. Against Miami Northwestern High School
, he had a then career high 293 yards and two touchdowns. In the next game, he broke that record with 319 yards and six touchdowns. During his senior year in 2000, Gore broke several Dade County
single-season records, including rushing yards (2,953) and touchdowns (34). Heavily recruited, he was named the No. 3 prospect in Dade County by The Miami Herald
, as well as No. 4 in Florida
and No. 18 nationally.
While emerging as a talented football prospect, Gore also focused his attention on improving his academics and assisting his mother, who was battling kidney disease and had started dialysis treatments. To remain close to home, Gore eventually chose to attend the University of Miami.
in 2001, Gore totaled 575 yards with 5 touchdowns on 62 carries (a 9.3-yard avg), the third-best season total in school history by a freshman and was named Sporting News' Big East Freshman of the Year. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee before spring practice in 2002 and spent the following season recovering from knee surgery. Before his injury that year, Gore beat out Willis McGahee
in the spring of 2002 for the role as the Hurricanes' starting running back.
Gore returned in 2003 and rushed for 100 yards in each of his first three games of the season. He also returned for his senior year in 2004, when his cousin, Kim Gibson, asked him to change his uniform number from #32 to #3 for better luck. He then ran for nearly 1,000 yards during the season.
In 28 total games with the Hurricanes, Gore rushed 380 times for 1,975 yards (a 5.7 rushing average) and seventeen touchdowns. His 1,975 yards rank seventh on the school's career-record list and his seventeen scores are tied for tenth. He also caught 23 passes for 225 yards (9.8 avg), returned two kickoffs for 48 yards and recorded five tackles on special teams.
by the 49ers.
Gore scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test prior to being drafted.
(* represents NFL Combine
)
paced the team with 460 yards. His 608 yards rushing was the highest for a 49ers rookie since Roger Craig had 725 yards rushing in 1983.
He rushed for 17 yards on four carries and caught two passes for 21 yards in his first game against the St. Louis Rams
. He later rushed for 42 yards on seven carries with a 5.4-yard average against the Dallas Cowboys
. He led the team with nine carries on 89 yards and recorded a then career-long 72-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter at the Washington Redskins
. The touchdown was the longest run from scrimmage by a 49ers player since running back Kevan Barlow
took one 78 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers
. The touchdown run was fifth-longest run from scrimmage by a 49ers rookie. He led the team in rushing for the third straight week with 5 yards on 15 carries (.7 avg.) at the Chicago Bears
, with a 19-yard long. He made his first NFL start against the Jacksonville Jaguars
, amassing over 100 combined yards with 79 yards rushing on 19 attempts for a 4.2 yard average with three receptions for 57 yards. Gore had his first two-touchdown game against the St. Louis Rams, with a 10-yard scoring run in the second quarter and a 30-yard score in the fourth quarter. In a game against the Houston Texans
, he registered his first 100-yard game with 108 yards on 25 carries. Following the season, he had major surgery on both shoulders.
to the New York Jets
in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.
He emerged as one of the top running backs in the NFL in his first full season as the starter. Gore carried the ball 312 times for a franchise record 1,695 yards, eclipsing Garrison Hearst
’s 1998 record of 1,570 yards. He became the first member of the 49ers to lead the NFC in rushing yards. He also set a franchise record with 2,180 combined yards (1,695 yards rushing and 485 yards receiving), breaking Hearst’s single season record of 2,105 total yards (1,570 rushing and 535 receiving) set in 1998. His total placed him second in the NFC to Steven Jackson
(1,528 rushing and 806 receiving, 2,334 total) and fourth overall in the entire NFL. In the 49ers’ first meeting against the Seattle Seahawks
, Gore set the 49ers’ single-game rushing record by totaling 212 yards on 24 carries, besting the 201 yards by Charlie Garner
on September 24, 2000 against the Cowboys. Gore had nine 100-yard rushing games in 2006, giving him ten for his career. His nine 100-yard games in 2006 shattered the franchise record for most 100-yard games in a season. Garrison Hearst (1998) and Roger Craig (1988) each had six 100-yard games in a season. Gore was the first 49ers running back to have three-straight 100 yard games since Garrison Hearst had a 49ers-record four straight 100-yard games during a stretch in 1998. In those three weeks, Gore set the team record for most rushing yards in a three-game span.
His breakaway ability helped him finish the season with 5.4 yards per carry, placing him third in the entire NFL, behind only Michael Vick
(8.4 YPC on 123 carries) and Maurice Jones-Drew
(5.7 YPC on 166 carries). The 5.4 yards per carry are tied for the second best in 49ers history. Among players with over 300 carries, however, Gore’s season puts him in elite company. Very few times has a player averaged as many yards per carry as Gore did, while carrying the ball over 300 times. The players ahead of him are all Hall of Famers and feature three, 2,000-yard rushing seasons.
He finished with eight rushing touchdowns, tied for the third most in a season by a 49er. Gore finished the season with 61 receptions, which led the team. Only two other teams had a running back as their leading receiver: New Orleans (Reggie Bush
) and Philadelphia (Brian Westbrook
). Of those, only Gore and Westbrook also led their team in rushing. He also caught his first receiving touchdown of his career at Seattle, when Alex Smith
avoided a sack and found Gore along the left sideline for a 20-yard score. He led the NFL with 16 rushes for 20 or more yards. Gore earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice during the 2006 season. He grabbed the honor in Week 5 after rushing for 134 yards on 27 carries, and catching 3 passes for 38 yards, against the Oakland Raiders
. He also won in Week 11 after his franchise record 212 rushing yards, and 26 yards on 4 receptions, against Seattle. After Gore’s tremendous season, he was named the starting running back to the NFC Pro Bowl
team. It was Gore’s first selection to the Pro Bowl.
Gore had benefited that season from the tutelage of then-offensive coordinator Norv Turner
, whose offensive scheme places a heavy emphasis on running the football.
Though Gore had fumbling problems at the beginning of the season, losing the ball once in each of the first four games, he improved his carrying and only fumbled three more times the rest of the year.
Gore signed a contract extension through 2011 estimated to be worth $
28 million over four years on March 28, 2007. He also stated that it is his goal to surpass Eric Dickerson
's single-season rushing record in 2007. He said that he would gain 2,200 yards.
Gore broke a bone in his hand in the non-contact Training Camp drill on July 30 and missed the entire preseason. On September 13, Gore's mother died, due to a kidney disease. He missed a practice, but returned to the team and scored two touchdowns the following Sunday in a 17-16 win over the St. Louis Rams
.
Gore's best game came against the Arizona Cardinals where he came up with 116 rushing yards and 98 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 1,102 rushing yards and 436 receiving yards.
Arizona Cardinals, where he rushed for 96 yards on only 14 carries. Despite his impressive performance, which also included a 41 yard touchdown run, the 49ers lost, 23-13.
In Week 3, he dominated the Detroit Lions
, rushing for over 120 yards with a touchdown in a 31-13 victory. The following week against the New Orleans Saints
, Gore outrushed Reggie Bush, although the 49ers were defeated, 31-17. In Week 6, Gore had his second 100 yard game of the season, as he rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries in a 40-26 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles
.
In a Week 17 match-up against the visiting Washington Redskins
, Gore became the first running back in 49ers history to rush for 1,000 yards or more in three straight seasons.
. He would also be complemented by a new second-string back, 49ers' third-round draft pick Glen Coffee
.
After being nearly shut down in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals
, Gore would have a career day the following week at the home opener versus the Seattle Seahawks
. Gore would rush for 206 yards for a 12.8 yard average, including a 79- and 80-yard touchdown run, becoming the second player in NFL history to rush for two touchdowns for 75 yards or more in a single game, with the other being hall-of-fame running back Barry Sanders
. Maurice Jones-Drew would become the third running back to also rush for two touchdowns for 75 yards in a single game.
After missing his next two games against the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons
due to an ankle injury, Gore returned in Week 7 against the Houston Texans
. While he had a successful game against the Chicago Bears in Week 10, gaining 104 yards with a touchdown, he was used less in the 49ers' offensive game plan in the following three weeks, after the team adopted more of a spread offense. In the 49ers' second game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, however, Gore had one of his most successful games of the season, rushing for 167 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown. In the 49ers' game against the Philadelphia Eagles in week 16 of the season, Gore had 16 carries for 107 yards against an Eagles team that had not given up an 100-yard game in 22 consecutive games. Gore was named a first alternate for the 2009 Pro Bowl. On January 20, 2010, Steven Jackson announced he will not be playing in the Pro Bowl because of injury, so Gore was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl in his spot, the second of his career.
, ending his season after the 49ers put him on IR.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who plays for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
analysts have nicknamed Gore "The Inconvenient Truth".
High school career
Gore attended Coral Gables High SchoolCoral Gables High School
Coral Gables Senior High School is a secondary school located at 450 Bird Road in Coral Gables, Florida, USA.Coral Gables SHS opened its doors in 1950; its architectural design reflects a Spanish influence with its open courtyards adorned with water fountains...
, where he excelled as a running back. He had two notable record-breaking games. Against Miami Northwestern High School
Miami Northwestern High School
Miami Northwestern Senior High School is a public high school located in Miami, Florida, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. It serves the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami. The school colors are Old Gold and Royal Blue...
, he had a then career high 293 yards and two touchdowns. In the next game, he broke that record with 319 yards and six touchdowns. During his senior year in 2000, Gore broke several Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
single-season records, including rushing yards (2,953) and touchdowns (34). Heavily recruited, he was named the No. 3 prospect in Dade County by The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald
The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
, as well as No. 4 in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and No. 18 nationally.
While emerging as a talented football prospect, Gore also focused his attention on improving his academics and assisting his mother, who was battling kidney disease and had started dialysis treatments. To remain close to home, Gore eventually chose to attend the University of Miami.
University of Miami
As a true freshman for the University of MiamiMiami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in 2001, Gore totaled 575 yards with 5 touchdowns on 62 carries (a 9.3-yard avg), the third-best season total in school history by a freshman and was named Sporting News' Big East Freshman of the Year. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his left knee before spring practice in 2002 and spent the following season recovering from knee surgery. Before his injury that year, Gore beat out Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee
Willis Andrew McGahee III is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
in the spring of 2002 for the role as the Hurricanes' starting running back.
Gore returned in 2003 and rushed for 100 yards in each of his first three games of the season. He also returned for his senior year in 2004, when his cousin, Kim Gibson, asked him to change his uniform number from #32 to #3 for better luck. He then ran for nearly 1,000 yards during the season.
In 28 total games with the Hurricanes, Gore rushed 380 times for 1,975 yards (a 5.7 rushing average) and seventeen touchdowns. His 1,975 yards rank seventh on the school's career-record list and his seventeen scores are tied for tenth. He also caught 23 passes for 225 yards (9.8 avg), returned two kickoffs for 48 yards and recorded five tackles on special teams.
2005 NFL Draft
Gore was selected 65th overall in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
by the 49ers.
Gore scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test prior to being drafted.
| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||
| Wt | 40y 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
20ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210 lb | 4.66s* | 4.11 | 6.91s | 34 in | 17 | 6 |
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
)
2005 season
Gore played in 14 games, starting one. He was inactive for two contests with a groin injury. He finished the season seventh among all NFL rookie running backs in rushing average with 4.8 average per run. He led the team in rushing with 608 yards on 127 carries and three rushing touchdowns. Gore also caught 15 passes for 131 yards. The last time a rookie led the 49ers in rushing was 1990, when Dexter CarterDexter Carter
Dexter Anthony Carter is a former running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets in the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round in the 1990 NFL Draft...
paced the team with 460 yards. His 608 yards rushing was the highest for a 49ers rookie since Roger Craig had 725 yards rushing in 1983.
He rushed for 17 yards on four carries and caught two passes for 21 yards in his first game against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. He later rushed for 42 yards on seven carries with a 5.4-yard average against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. He led the team with nine carries on 89 yards and recorded a then career-long 72-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter at the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. The touchdown was the longest run from scrimmage by a 49ers player since running back Kevan Barlow
Kevan Barlow
Kevan C. Barlow is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
took one 78 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. The touchdown run was fifth-longest run from scrimmage by a 49ers rookie. He led the team in rushing for the third straight week with 5 yards on 15 carries (.7 avg.) at the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, with a 19-yard long. He made his first NFL start against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, amassing over 100 combined yards with 79 yards rushing on 19 attempts for a 4.2 yard average with three receptions for 57 yards. Gore had his first two-touchdown game against the St. Louis Rams, with a 10-yard scoring run in the second quarter and a 30-yard score in the fourth quarter. In a game against the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he registered his first 100-yard game with 108 yards on 25 carries. Following the season, he had major surgery on both shoulders.
2006 season
Gore was elevated to the top of the San Francisco 49ers' depth chart following the August 19, 2006 trade that shipped incumbent starter Kevan BarlowKevan Barlow
Kevan C. Barlow is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
to the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.
He emerged as one of the top running backs in the NFL in his first full season as the starter. Gore carried the ball 312 times for a franchise record 1,695 yards, eclipsing Garrison Hearst
Garrison Hearst
Gerard Garrison Hearst is a former National Football League running back who last played for the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2004. He had previously played for the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Francisco 49ers...
’s 1998 record of 1,570 yards. He became the first member of the 49ers to lead the NFC in rushing yards. He also set a franchise record with 2,180 combined yards (1,695 yards rushing and 485 yards receiving), breaking Hearst’s single season record of 2,105 total yards (1,570 rushing and 535 receiving) set in 1998. His total placed him second in the NFC to Steven Jackson
Steven Jackson
Steven Rashad Jackson is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams 24th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State University....
(1,528 rushing and 806 receiving, 2,334 total) and fourth overall in the entire NFL. In the 49ers’ first meeting against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, Gore set the 49ers’ single-game rushing record by totaling 212 yards on 24 carries, besting the 201 yards by Charlie Garner
Charlie Garner
Charlie Garner III is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
on September 24, 2000 against the Cowboys. Gore had nine 100-yard rushing games in 2006, giving him ten for his career. His nine 100-yard games in 2006 shattered the franchise record for most 100-yard games in a season. Garrison Hearst (1998) and Roger Craig (1988) each had six 100-yard games in a season. Gore was the first 49ers running back to have three-straight 100 yard games since Garrison Hearst had a 49ers-record four straight 100-yard games during a stretch in 1998. In those three weeks, Gore set the team record for most rushing yards in a three-game span.
His breakaway ability helped him finish the season with 5.4 yards per carry, placing him third in the entire NFL, behind only Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
(8.4 YPC on 123 carries) and Maurice Jones-Drew
Maurice Jones-Drew
Maurice Christopher Jones-Drew is a professional American football player who currently plays running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League . He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
(5.7 YPC on 166 carries). The 5.4 yards per carry are tied for the second best in 49ers history. Among players with over 300 carries, however, Gore’s season puts him in elite company. Very few times has a player averaged as many yards per carry as Gore did, while carrying the ball over 300 times. The players ahead of him are all Hall of Famers and feature three, 2,000-yard rushing seasons.
He finished with eight rushing touchdowns, tied for the third most in a season by a 49er. Gore finished the season with 61 receptions, which led the team. Only two other teams had a running back as their leading receiver: New Orleans (Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
) and Philadelphia (Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
). Of those, only Gore and Westbrook also led their team in rushing. He also caught his first receiving touchdown of his career at Seattle, when Alex Smith
Alex Smith
Alexander Douglas Smith is a professional American football player and starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Smith was drafted with the 1st-overall pick in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft by San Francisco from the University of Utah...
avoided a sack and found Gore along the left sideline for a 20-yard score. He led the NFL with 16 rushes for 20 or more yards. Gore earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice during the 2006 season. He grabbed the honor in Week 5 after rushing for 134 yards on 27 carries, and catching 3 passes for 38 yards, against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He also won in Week 11 after his franchise record 212 rushing yards, and 26 yards on 4 receptions, against Seattle. After Gore’s tremendous season, he was named the starting running back to the NFC Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
team. It was Gore’s first selection to the Pro Bowl.
Gore had benefited that season from the tutelage of then-offensive coordinator Norv Turner
Norv Turner
Norval Eugene Turner is the head coach for the National Football League's San Diego Chargers. He also has served as head coach of the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders, and as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers...
, whose offensive scheme places a heavy emphasis on running the football.
Though Gore had fumbling problems at the beginning of the season, losing the ball once in each of the first four games, he improved his carrying and only fumbled three more times the rest of the year.
2007 season
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
28 million over four years on March 28, 2007. He also stated that it is his goal to surpass Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
's single-season rushing record in 2007. He said that he would gain 2,200 yards.
Gore broke a bone in his hand in the non-contact Training Camp drill on July 30 and missed the entire preseason. On September 13, Gore's mother died, due to a kidney disease. He missed a practice, but returned to the team and scored two touchdowns the following Sunday in a 17-16 win over the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
.
Gore's best game came against the Arizona Cardinals where he came up with 116 rushing yards and 98 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 1,102 rushing yards and 436 receiving yards.
2008 season
Gore began the 2008 season against the eventual NFC ChampionNFC Championship Game
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
Arizona Cardinals, where he rushed for 96 yards on only 14 carries. Despite his impressive performance, which also included a 41 yard touchdown run, the 49ers lost, 23-13.
In Week 3, he dominated the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, rushing for over 120 yards with a touchdown in a 31-13 victory. The following week against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, Gore outrushed Reggie Bush, although the 49ers were defeated, 31-17. In Week 6, Gore had his second 100 yard game of the season, as he rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries in a 40-26 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In a Week 17 match-up against the visiting Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, Gore became the first running back in 49ers history to rush for 1,000 yards or more in three straight seasons.
2009 season
Gore entered the 2009 season under the guidance of new running back coach Tom RathmanTom Rathman
Thomas Dean Rathman is a former American football fullback who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders . He is currently the running backs coach for the 49ers.-High school:...
. He would also be complemented by a new second-string back, 49ers' third-round draft pick Glen Coffee
Glen Coffee
Glenwood Razeem Coffee, Jr is a former American football running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft and played one season before retiring in 2010. He played college football at Alabama.-Freshman:In...
.
After being nearly shut down in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Gore would have a career day the following week at the home opener versus the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. Gore would rush for 206 yards for a 12.8 yard average, including a 79- and 80-yard touchdown run, becoming the second player in NFL history to rush for two touchdowns for 75 yards or more in a single game, with the other being hall-of-fame running back Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
. Maurice Jones-Drew would become the third running back to also rush for two touchdowns for 75 yards in a single game.
After missing his next two games against the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
due to an ankle injury, Gore returned in Week 7 against the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. While he had a successful game against the Chicago Bears in Week 10, gaining 104 yards with a touchdown, he was used less in the 49ers' offensive game plan in the following three weeks, after the team adopted more of a spread offense. In the 49ers' second game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, however, Gore had one of his most successful games of the season, rushing for 167 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown. In the 49ers' game against the Philadelphia Eagles in week 16 of the season, Gore had 16 carries for 107 yards against an Eagles team that had not given up an 100-yard game in 22 consecutive games. Gore was named a first alternate for the 2009 Pro Bowl. On January 20, 2010, Steven Jackson announced he will not be playing in the Pro Bowl because of injury, so Gore was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl in his spot, the second of his career.
2010 season
Gore fractured his right hip in a Week 12 win over the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, ending his season after the 49ers put him on IR.
2011 season
Gore agreed to a three-year extension worth $25.9 million that would keep him with the San Francisco 49ers through 2014 on August 30, 2011.Statistics
| Rushing: Rush (American football) Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass... | |Receiving Reception (American football) In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving... : |
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| Year | |Tm | G | |Att | |Avg | |TD | |Yds | |Lng | 2005 2005 NFL season The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006... | 22 | SF San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
14 | 1 | 127 | 609 | 4.8 | 72 | 3 | 15 | 131 | 8.7 | 47 | 0 |
| 2006 2006 NFL season The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006... |
23 | SF | 16 | 16 | 312 | 1,695 | 5.4 | 72 | 8 | 61 | 485 | 8.0 | 39 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2007 2007 NFL season The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30.... |
24 | SF | 15 | 15 | 260 | 1,102 | 4.2 | 43 | 5 | 53 | 436 | 8.2 | 23 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2008 2008 NFL season The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the... |
25 | SF | 14 | 14 | 240 | 1,063 | 4.3 | 41 | 6 | 43 | 373 | 8.7 | 26 | 2 | ||||||||
| 2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... |
26 | SF | 14 | 14 | 229 | 1,120 | 4.9 | 80 | 10 | 52 | 406 | 7.8 | 48 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
27 | SF | 11 | 11 | 203 | 853 | 4.2 | 64 | 3 | 46 | 452 | 9.8 | 41 | 2 | ||||||||
| Totals: | 84 | 71 | 1,371 | 6,414 | 4.7 | 80 | 35 | 270 | 2,283 | 8.5 | 48 | 9 | ||||||||||