The Jets’ win over Cleveland on Sunday officially cost them the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but they did make some individual history: with a four-yard carry midway through the fourth quarter, Frank Gore became just the third player in NFL history to rush for 16,000 career yards, joining NFL all-time leader Emmitt Smith (18,355) and Walter Payton (16,726) as the only backs to reach that mark.
Gore entered Sunday needing 48 yards to reach 16,000, and his 14th carry of the day – coming on a second-and-9 play with just over eight minutes left – got him to exactly both of those totals.
The 37-year-old has been the league’s third-leading all-time rusher since late last season, when he surpassed Barry Sanders (15,269), and he could surpass Payton’s total sometime next season if he chooses to continue playing.
Gore did not receive another carry in the game, but the Miami product could make more history in the Jets’ finale with New England: he finished Sunday with a career total of 19,985 yards from scrimmage, and 15 yards next week would make him just the fourth player all-time with 20,000.
That group includes Payton (21,264), Smith (21,579), and all-time leader Jerry Rice (23,540).
Gore has failed to record 15 scrimmage yards just once this season: during the Jets’ Week 13 loss to the Raiders, when he was knocked out of the game with a concussion after just one carry.
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