Frank Gore Is 'Still Thinking About' Returning For 2021 Season

Days after the regular season ended, Frank Gore told reporters that he wanted to take some time off with his family before making a decision about his future. One month later, the 37-year-old still isn't ruling out a return in 2021.

"I'm still thinking about it," Gore said in an interview on the Jim Rome Show on Friday. "I do know that I can still play. I still can be somewhere where I can help in the locker room, be a great teammate and whenever I do get an opportunity on the field, I can still do some great things to help the team."

Gore ended the 2020 season with 653 yards, enough to get him to exactly 16,000 in his career. The future Hall of Famer is just the third rusher in NFL history to reach that milestone., joining Emmitt Smith (18.355) and Walter Payton (16,726).

The Jets initially signed Gore to serve as Le'Veon Bell's backup. When New York released Bell a few weeks into the season, Gore became the team's leading rusher, getting double-digit carries in all but four contests.

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There's a good chance Gore would've finished out the season with even more rushing yards, but after leaving New York's penultimate game of the season with a lung contusion, he was forced to sit out during Week 17. It was just the third time in the last decade that Gore had sat out for a game. He's been in the backfield in 241 games in his career, the most of any running back in NFL history.

Even if he's set to turn 38 in May, Gore believes he can still help out at this level. He's keeping himself busy with light workouts, telling Rome that he still has some quality carries left in the tank. 

As for where Gore would want to play in 2021, if he decided to return for a 17th season, the veteran echoed his comments from last month. 

"First, I want to win," he said. "I want to be around a team that's got a young great back who I can mentor on the field and off the field. To show him what it takes and how to have longevity in this league. And whenever I get an opportunity, if they need me to play, I can show them that I'll be ready."

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• Carson Palmer Praises Sam Darnold: 'A Franchise Quarterback Without a Doubt'
• Jamal Adams Has Faith That Sam Darnold Is 'Going To Be Fine'

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