Roger Craig and Frank Gore: 49ers Legends Await Hall of Fame Call
SAN FRANCISCO - When Joe Montana speaks about football, people listen. And when he talks about Roger Craig, he doesn’t hold back.
“He meant everything to that offense,” Montana said, summing up what many who watched the 49ers’ dynasty of the 1980s already know - Craig was the heartbeat of one of the NFL’s most iconic teams.
Now, after more than three decades of waiting, Craig may finally hear his name called for football immortality. He and fellow 49ers great Frank Gore are among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with this year’s class set to be revealed Thursday night at NFL Honors.
Craig’s Long-Awaited Moment
Craig’s Hall of Fame case has always been a compelling one. A trailblazer at his position, he was the first player in NFL history to record both 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season - a feat he pulled off in 1985. That kind of dual-threat versatility has only been matched by Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey, and McCaffrey came within striking distance of doing it again this season in San Francisco.
“There’s a guy that wasn’t just a runner,” Montana said. “He’s like a wide receiver catching passes out of the backfield.
Today, they’d even split him out and let him run routes out there. That’s the kind of player he is.”
At 65, Craig has been here before - as a finalist in both 2010 and 2020 - but this time, the momentum feels different. He’s a Seniors finalist, meaning he was considered alongside other legendary figures like Ken Anderson and L.C.
Greenwood, as well as contributor Robert Kraft and coaching icon Bill Belichick. All candidates in this category need 80% of the vote to make it in.
With reports suggesting Kraft and Belichick didn’t clear that threshold, Craig’s odds may finally be lining up.
The Final Piece of a Dynasty
Craig’s resume speaks for itself: three Super Bowl rings, four Pro Bowl selections, an All-Pro nod, and NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1988. He racked up 8,189 rushing yards, 4,911 receiving yards, and 73 total touchdowns across his career, which included stints with the Raiders and Vikings after his eight-year run in San Francisco.
But beyond the numbers, Craig represents something bigger - the final offensive cornerstone of Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense still waiting for Canton recognition.
“He’s the last piece of Bill Walsh’s offense that needs vindication and acclaim,” said former 49ers executive Carmen Policy. “We’re praying that that happens.”
The sentiment is shared by many within the 49ers family. At a recent screening of AMC’s Rise of the 49ers docuseries, Montana and other legends gathered to reflect on their glory days - and to rally behind Craig.
Even Jerry Rice chimed in with a memory that speaks to Craig’s relentless work ethic.
“I remember the first time I came to the Niners, he took me to ‘The Hill.’ It hurt me,” Rice said of the infamous training run on the Peninsula. “I actually stayed away for a couple of days, then I said I have to go back and conquer that hill.”
Gore’s First Shot at Canton
While Craig’s wait has been long, Frank Gore is just beginning his Hall of Fame journey. A first-ballot finalist, Gore’s credentials are undeniable. He ranks third on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with exactly 16,000 yards and holds the 49ers franchise rushing record with 11,073 yards from 2005 to 2013.
Gore’s durability was legendary. He played in 241 games - the most ever by an NFL running back - and recorded nine 1,000-yard seasons, including eight with the 49ers. After his time in San Francisco, he continued to grind through six more seasons with the Colts, Dolphins, Bills, and Jets.
He made five Pro Bowls with the 49ers and became a fan favorite for his toughness, consistency, and no-nonsense approach to the game. While he may not get the first-ballot nod, his place in Canton feels like a matter of "when," not "if."
A Legacy in Gold Jackets
The 49ers’ Hall of Fame lineage is rich. From Montana and Rice to Ronnie Lott, Steve Young, and Fred Dean - the franchise’s golden era has been well represented in Canton. Owner Eddie DeBartolo and coach Bill Walsh are also enshrined, cementing the legacy of a dynasty that changed the game.
But Craig’s absence has always stood out. A player who did it all - run, catch, block, lead - and did it at the highest level, in the biggest moments. His induction would be more than personal validation; it would be a long-overdue acknowledgment of his role in reshaping the running back position.
And for the 49ers faithful, it would be a celebration of a player who helped define an era.
Eyes on the Present
While the Hall of Fame buzz surrounds two of the franchise’s all-time greats, the current 49ers are making noise of their own. Christian McCaffrey is up for a slew of awards at NFL Honors, including MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and the Salute To Service Award.
“It’s a huge honor just being nominated and being at things like the Pro Bowl while you’re around great players,” McCaffrey said Monday at practice.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan is also a finalist for his first AP NFL Coach of the Year award, a nod to the job he’s done guiding the team through injuries and adversity to a 12-5 regular season and another deep playoff push.
But this week, the spotlight belongs to Craig and Gore - two backs who wore the red and gold with pride, who carried the franchise on their shoulders in different eras, and who now stand on the doorstep of football’s greatest honor.
If Craig gets the call, it won’t just be a win for him - it’ll be a win for an entire generation of 49ers football.