3 former Buffalo Bills returning to New Era Field in 2020
By Rob Spehar
Weeks 1 – Frank Gore (New York Jets)
The Jets were looking to add some depth behind Le’Veon Bell and got it by signing the durable Frank Gore to a one year deal that will see him reunited with Adam Gase for a third time.
It’s a pretty good sign when you have a future Hall of Fame running back wanting to join your team. That’s what the Buffalo Bills got when they signed Gore to a one-year deal that was worth $2 million last offseason. Even though it was only one season that he played for the Bills, Frank Gore left his mark. He was a great veteran leader on the field and in the locker room as well.
Devin Singletary was drafted to be the running back of the future in Buffalo and bringing in Gore helped groom Singletary to be that feature back. Even when Singletary went down with a hamstring injury last season in a Week 2 win against the Giants, Gore filled in admirably until Singletary was able to come back. Once he did come back, it was evident that Singletary was ready to take the reigns and Gore’s role began to diminish. His time in Buffalo was pretty much done. In the 16 games that he played for the Bills, Gore carried the ball 166 times for 599 yards and 2 touchdowns while averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
With the Jets signing Gore, they get the third leading rusher in NFL history (15,347 yards). He was brought in to take the load off of lead back Le’Veon Bell and mentor the young guys just as he did in Buffalo. Jets head coach Adam Gase and Gore have some history together. It was back in 2008 while in San Francisco when they first worked together and Gase was an offensive assistant. When Gase was named the head coach in Miami in 2018, he brought Gore with him and he ended up leading the team in rushing with 722 yards.
The Jets will be Frank Gore’s fifth team. During his career, he suited up for the 49ers, Colts, Dolphins, and Bills. He is 37 years old but can still be that strong physical back that we all have come to know.