Poll results: What 49er would you like to have back?

The San Francisco 49ers will be facing one of their most beloved former players of the modern era in Indianapolis on Sunday, Frank Gore. Thinking about what it would be like to still have Gore on the team, I decided to open up a poll to see which active player fans wished they could have back. I didn’t give any direction, for instance most likely to impact the team or most likable. I just left it to pure instinct. It was close but after 2076 people voted, Frank Gore came out on top.

Gore holds a special place in many people’s hearts, including my own. He was drafted by 49ers in the third round of 2005 by the hand of Scot McCloughan who remains very close to the running back to this day. His draft stock dropped as a result of two ACL surgeries and a need for a shoulder surgery. Who would have predicted that Gore would still be playing in a thirteenth season in the NFL?

With three more rushing yards, Gore will pass Eric Dickerson in all time rushing yards (13,259), moving him into seventh place. The five running backs drafted before Gore in 2005 have long since retired. (Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, Cadillac Williams, J.J. Arrington and Eric Shelton)

It’s very appropriate that Alex Smith received the second most votes in the poll. He has been doing remarkably well, no longer just a “game manager.” In his first four games of 2017, Smith has completed 76% of his throws averaging 8.8 yards per play, and 266 yards per game. He has thrown eight touchdowns and no interceptions for a rating of 124.2.

Many Faithful still would like to see Colin Kaepernick playing in Levi’s Stadium every Sunday after leading the team to two NFC Championship games in a row. He came in third in votes. Some NFL fans would just like to see him playing somewhere, anywhere.

Most mentioned after the top three players were tight end Delanie Walker, who has been much more productive than the recently departed Vance McDonald. Offensive line issues make people long for a healthy Mike Iupati. Michael Crabtree only moved across the bay and still has may fans all over the Bay Area.

Regardless of the possibility of what Gore could do to impact the team, he clearly is someone that 49ers fas still cherish. Hopefully when he gets inducted into the Hall Of Fame, he goes in as a 49er. Yes, I refuse to say if.