After a long career in the NFL that most running backs would envy, 38-year-old Frank Gore is trying his hand at a new sport: boxing.
The NFL's third-leading rusher of all-time has had calls from teams trying to fill voids in their running back room, but he has declined all offers for now because he hasn’t made up his mind if he still wants to keep on playing football. Gore says despite his doubt, he is training for both sports.
"I've been training for both -- football and boxing," Gore told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. "I've always loved boxing, so that's what I've been doing. And we're trying to make a fight happen. If we do that, you'll see me in the ring.
A source close to the veteran running back told Rapoport there is a high-profile fight that is in the works, but he did not say who it would be against. Gore also hired fight agent Malki Kawa, the same agent that negotiated Darius Leonard’s near $100 million contract extension.
There are number of potential spots where Gore can land, including the Jaguars, who lost Travis Etienne for the season before he even played a game, and the Ravens, who have already lost three backs for the season. Gore has declined any NFL offer and loves his new challenge of trying to become a legitimate fighter.
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"I just fell in love with how hard it is," Gore said. "I felt like, 'Man, I couldn't fight.' And I always like a challenge. So, I kept doing it and doing it and I saw myself getting better and better."
The longtime NFL star spent most of his career with the 49ers and has played for three AFC East teams, most recently for the Jets — carrying the ball 187 times for 653 yards with two scores in 14 games last season. Gore does have a message for anyone that doubts his new endeavor and skills in the boxing ring.
"You'll see when I get in the ring," Gore said.