The New York Jets are signing running back Frank Gore to a one-year contract for the 36-year-old running back to play in his 17th season.
The signing allows for more depth for the Jets, who have Le’Veon Bell in the backfield and under contract. Surprisingly, the Jets didn’t move up in the draft to select one of the many talented receivers. If the Jets could’ve traded Bell, who is a running back who continues to age and eat up cap space, to trade up and give Sam Darnold some much needed help, the Jets could be a legitimate contender in the AFC East.
But now here they are, signing Gore instead of useful receivers.
Last season with the Buffalo Bills, Gore rushed for 599 yards (the lowest of his career) and two touchdowns, while ceasing carries to rookie Devin Singletary. Being with Gore helped Singletary. The two trained together and Singletary was one of the premier rookies in the league. Gore has become a journeyman in the NFL, now on his fourth team since leaving the San Francisco 49ers after the 2014 season.
Gore trails only Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton in career rushing yards, finishing last season with 15,347 career rushing yards. Gore has added 79 rushing touchdowns and 18 receiving touchdowns over the course of his career.
His career has been somewhat on an outlier. With him being the third all-time in career rushing yards, spectators would assume that Gore is one of the all-time great running backs, but a further deep dive at his career would show that Gore was routinely not a top-five running back in the league at any point in his career. 2006, Gore’s sophomore season, was his best season when he rushed for 1,695 yards.
Gore has a worthy career, but his Hall of Fame case will be an interesting argument.
