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San Francisco 49ers: A familiar face, Frank Gore, gets to square off against the Niners in Week 5

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 20: Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers with his headphones on warms up prior to playing the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium on December 20, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 20: Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers with his headphones on warms up prior to playing the San Diego Chargers at Levi's Stadium on December 20, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers visit the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, which means the Niners will have a reunion, of sorts, with former running back Frank Gore.

“That’s what I bleed,” current Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore said about his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News this week.

“I want to see them do good.”

Gore — the Niners’ all-time leading rusher, with 11,073 rushing yards and 64 touchdowns — will have a chance to see his former squad on Sunday when the 49ers visit the Colts for a Week 5 showdown between two last-place teams.

“That’s what I bleed. I want to see them do good.” – Colts running back Frank Gore on the 49ers.

And despite San Francisco’s current struggles, Gore was complimentary of what the new regime is doing in Santa Clara.

“They’re going in the right direction. They’re tough,” he added. “I like their coaching staff and what they’re doing offensively.”

It’s strange to think Gore, 34 years old, is still contributing at such a high level over two years after the Niners let him walk via free agency. In two-plus seasons in Indianapolis, Gore is averaging 3.7 yards per carry and a little over 60 yards per game.

It’s understandable those numbers aren’t quite what 49ers fans came to expect during his Niners tenure.

But still.

In 2014, the thought was then-31-year-old Gore would be winding down his career, which prompted former general manager Trent Baalke to draft Gore’s replacement, Carlos Hyde, in Round 2.

One might think Gore, who left in 2015, would have been bitter. But Inman reported the veteran tailback doesn’t harbor any resentments.

Frank Gore on the 49ers’ Loss in Super Bowl XLVII

What does sting Gore a bit is what happened in Super Bowl XLVII when the Niners battled the Baltimore Ravens, coming up short in the 34-31 loss:

"It was real close. I think we were 4 or 5 yards away. Because of what we had going on as one of the top teams in the league, you feel you’d go back. It never happened. I wish we closed the deal. It’s hard to get to the Super Bowl. I’m always thinking about it."

Most Niners fans feel the same way.

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Gore had 19 rushing attempts for 110 yards and a touchdown during that game, and some might argue San Francisco would have won the Super Bowl had Gore been given the ball during the Niners’ late goal-line efforts in the fourth quarter.

We’ll never know, but that doesn’t mean Gore isn’t still pursuing his dream of winning a Super Bowl.

According to Inman, Gore said he’s still pursuing that goal and is having fun playing the game.

And while Father Time always wins, Gore’s ability to play well into his mid-30s is a testament to one of the greatest runners we’ve had the luxury of seeing this generation.

Next: 49ers' 5 best running backs of all time

His story will include another notable chapter this Sunday.