Frank Gore - The Ultimate Professional

Frank Gore – The Ultimate Professional

This week Frank Gore retired as a 49ers and his career is one to truly admire.

Frank Gore, from the time he entered the league, was always fighting battles. The team was entering a new season, with a new Coach in Mike Nolan, a new front office and player personnel. Famously in the 1^st Round, the 49ers decided to draft Alex Smith, rather than Aaron Rogers. Gore was taken in the 3^rd Round as part of the team's rebuilding process.

In his first season, he rushed for more 1705 yards, scored 8 touchdowns, and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. This was in a losing team, trying to find its feet and managing a rookie quarterback. Then over the course of the next 5 seasons, the 49ers fell into the trap of a poorly run organisations, changing staff, co-ordinators and giving the team and the players no direction.

Through this period, Gore was one consistent piece of the offense, and his statistics illustrate this:

2007       -              1103 yards, 5 rushing touchdowns

2008       -              1036 yards, 6 rushing touchdowns

2009       -              1120 yards, 10 rushing touchdowns

2010       -              853 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns

2011       -              1211 yards, 8 rushing touchdowns

The team Hired Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and during the next three seasons, Gore under Greg Roman’s offense, would excel reaching two NFC Championship games and one Superbowl.

In those three years, under Harbaugh and Roman, Gore shined and so too the team:

2012       -              1214 yards, 8 rushing touchdowns

2013       -              1128 yards, 9 rushing touchdowns

2014       -              1103 yards, 4 rushing touchdowns

Gore’s ability to adapt, deal with the adversity of an organisation not performing on and off the field is  a testimony to him and his loyalty to the organisation truly stands out in the modern era of professional sports.

Many players would have demanded a trade or move away from the 49ers, but he did not, he stuck with the team, and he got so close to winning a Superbowl.

For the Faithful, Gore is one of the best players to wear the Red and Gold. He finished, 3^rd in the all-time rushing statistics.

As a fan from the UK, Gore helped me through watching the team during those losing seasons and I hope he is heading into Canton and the Hall of Fame.