San Francisco 49ers: Ranking top 10 running backs in franchise history

No. 1: Frank Gore (2005-2014)

I spoiled who would top this list in my introduction earlier in the article, but who cares. We knew Frank Gore would be this lists’ top dog, and rightfully so. Gore is not only touted as the greatest 49ers running back of all time, but is considered by many as one of the greatest pure rushers in the history of the game.

San Francisco 49ers

He is the only player on this list who is currently still playing NFL football.

Throughout his 10-season career with the Niners, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry, totaling a monstrous 11,073 rushing yards and 64 rushing touchdowns, making him the organization’s all-time leading rusher. His work in the receiving game is nothing to scoff at with multiple 400-plus yard receiving seasons in the red and gold.

He also holds the single-season rushing record among 49ers with 1,695 yards.

Although Gore never won a Super Bowl with the franchise, he was the team’s best player for most of his tenure and was widely regarded throughout the NFL as one of the league’s most punishing backs on a year-to-year basis. Gore was the definition of consistency, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark eight out of his 10 seasons with the team. Not to mention he is currently third in the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 15,347 yards behind only Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton.

Gore’s ability to play at such a high level for such a long period of time is something rarely seen in the history of the game. Gore is truly an enigma and will always be regarded as the 49ers’ greatest rusher of all time.

When it’s all said and done, Gore will without a doubt be adding a gold jacket to his arsenal of accolades.