49ers: Top 30 moments in San Francisco franchise history

San Francisco 49ers: Top 30 all-time moments in franchise history

SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 10: (L-R) Former San Francisco 49er players Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana stand with a Super Bowl trophy during a public memorial service for former 49ers coach Bill Walsh August 10, 2007 at Monster Park in San Francisco, California. NFL Hall of Famer Bill Walsh, who was known by many as 'The Genius' for leading the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl championships, died last week at the age of 75 after a long battle with leukemia. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /

14 of 30

Running back Frank Gore became the franchise’s all-time leading rusher in 2011. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 17: Frank Gore Becomes 49ers’ All-Time Franchise Leading Rusher

No. 21 will forever hold a special place in San Francisco 49ers lore.

Running back Frank Gore’s efforts in a 49ers uniform sparked plenty of memorable moments. And few are quite as remarkable as the day when Gore surpassed legendary 49ers running back Joe Perry to become the franchise’s leading rusher.

The moment came on December 4, 2011 versus the St. Louis Rams. Gore had already passed running back Roger Craig earlier that season. But in the second quarter of the game versus the Rams, Gore ripped off a simple two-yard run to pass Perry and become No. 1 all-time on this milestone of 49ers lists.

“I actually went up to him after he had passed it and tried to congratulate him,” fullback Bruce Miller said via Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. “But he was like, ‘Forget that. Let’s get the win.’ That’s the kind of guy Frank is. He’s a team guy, and all he wanted was to win the game and clinch the division. The rushing record came second.”

Gore would continue adding to his franchise lead through the 2014 season before signing an offseason free-agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts in 2015.