Frank Gore:
Ex-49er moves up rushing list.
INDIANAPOLIS — Even after two-plus seasons, it’s still weird to see Frank Gore in a blue-and-white uniform, wearing No. 23 instead of the No. 21 that remains so popular on the backs of 49ers fans.
But there he was, at age 34, still moving: up the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, up the lists of all-time running backs.
On the second carry of the game, Gore took the handoff and ran for 9 yards. With that carry, he moved past Eric Dickerson on the NFL’s alltime rushing list and into seventh place.
He also was tackled by old teammate NaVorro Bowman.
“Yeah, but I dragged him for 3 yards,” Gore said with a laugh as he laced up his shiny gold high-tops.
Gore, probably the most beloved 49er of the recent era, rushed for 48 yards on 14 carries. He enjoyed seeing old teammates like Bowman and Joe Staley.
“There are only a couple of guys still there that I really played with,” he said. “I was happy to see them. But I just wanted to have a good game and get the W, and we did.”
Yes, the Colts did. Though Gore’s new team isn’t very good, particularly with Andrew Luck’s continued injuries, his old team is worse. The 49ers lost to the Colts 26-23 in overtime to fall to 0-5. Since Gore left, the 49ers have won seven of 37 games.
Coincidence? Some wouldn’t think so, and we’re left with memories of Gore squirting through the line, running hard, carrying the 49ers to glory time and again. Of Gore falling down against the Seahawks to ensure time ran out, clinching the only win against Seattle since October 2012.
And of Gore carrying for 33 yards late in Super Bowl XLVII, getting the 49ers down to the goal line, only to never touch the ball again on the ill-fated drive.
Gore, who spent a long time on the phone with Bay Area reporters last week, is as engaging as ever. He showed off a video on his phone of his 7-year old scoring a touchdown in Pee Wee football. He came down the hall from the Colts’ locker room to do a local Bay Area television interview. He stood outside the 49ers’ locker room, greeting old friends and chatting with owner Jed York.
“I think they’re going in the right direction,” he said of the 49ers. “They play very hard.”
He still talks to his old teammates every once in a while. He revels in the success Alex Smith is having with the Chiefs this season. He likes seeing the former 49ers who are still playing, succeeding. And he wonders what happened to that oncegreat team.
“Trent (Baalke) messed that team up,” he said.
As usual, Gore was right.