He will not play for the Jets in Sunday’s season finale against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Most likely he will never play with the Jets again, or anyone else.
When the Jets 2-13 conclude their miserable 2020 season on Sunday, veteran Frank Gore will return home breastfeeding the injured lung he suffered in last week’s game against the Browns.
But Gore, 37, has left his mark with all the Jets players he played this season. It was a gift for younger players who glimpsed what it takes to be a professional athlete.
In a brutal game that chews and spits runners as the current president of the United States tweets, Gore has been the last survivor.
The NFL is an acronym for National Football League as much as for “not for long,” with an average career of 3.3 years. For current runners, that figure is even lower: a career expectancy of 2.57 years.
Gore has played 16 years, 241 games, directed the ball 3,735 times for exactly 16,000 yards with 81 rushing touchdowns.
Gore’s 48-yard run against the Browns last week left only Emmitt Smith (18,355) and Walter Payton (16,726) behind in running backs.
If you listen to those people with whom you have touched life, it is very clear that Gore’s greatness extends far beyond his numbing numbers.
“He’s a great football player, but even a better person,” said Ty Johnson, a 23-year-old runner. “She’s the model of a professional athlete.”
Goalkeeper Greg Van Roten described what Gore has done as incredible, adding: “He does everything physically and mentally to prepare … and brings other people with him. It has been quite an experience to share costumes with Frank. As O-linemen, we were very aware of this 16,000 yard mark. Each week he wondered, “How many more yards does Frank need? What should we take him to?”
“It hit him in the nose and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
In fact, Gore’s last operation of the season, as a Jet and most likely his career, gained 4 yards in the fourth quarter against the Browns. These gardens gave him 16,000 for his career.
It is unclear if it was the play in which he suffered bruised lungs, but Gore did not reproduce another afterwards.
“Frank has been an inspiration to all of us,” quarterback Sam Darnold said. “He is just a special player, a special human being. He was put on this land to play football. It was amazing to see him play and I’m proud to call him a teammate and friend. “
Coach Adam Gase, who was first around Gore in 2008 as an offensive assistant for the 49ers and then took him to Miami, said he believes Gore “has impacted anyone who has come around him. in the building, whether it’s a player, a coach or a staff member. ” ‘
Gore is not the first Hall of Fame player to play for the Jets at the twilight of his career.
Assuming he will finally be voted on at the show (of the top 16 runners in the race, all except Gore and Adrian Peterson, who is still active), Gore will be the eighth Hall of Fame to have a cup of coffee with the Jets at the end of his career since 1993.
Security Ronnie Lott played for the Jets in 1993 and 1994 after 10 seasons in San Francisco and two in Oakland, ending his career with the Jets.
Receiver Art Monk played for the Jets in 1994 after 14 seasons in Washington and played one more season, in Philadelphia, before retiring.
Security Steve Atwater played for the 1999 Jets after 10 years in Denver, ending his career in New York.
Quarterback Brett Favre played for the Jets in 2008 after 16 seasons at Green Bay, and then played two more at Minnesota before retiring.
Runner LaDanian Tomlinson played for the Jets in 2010 and 11 after nine seasons in San Diego and ended his career as a Jet.
Safety Ed Reed played the last seven games of the 2013 season with the Jets after 11 seasons in Baltimore and the first part of the season of 13 in Houston, and his last NFL game was as Jet.
Defensive end Jason Taylor played for the Jets in 2010 after 12 seasons in Miami and one in Washington, and ended his career with one more year in Miami before retiring.
All seven players have been voted in the Hall of Fame.
Gore, as soon as he is eligible, will also have his own bust there.
Asked if he expects Gore to continue playing or hang out after this season, Gase said, “I said this a long time ago, ‘Never doubt Frank Gore.’