This year”s Pro Football Hall of Fame class is set to be announced at the NFL Honors event on Thursday night, held at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Notably, former 49ers stars Roger Craig and Frank Gore are finalists, vying for the prestigious gold jacket.
After a lengthy 32-year wait, Craig is expected to finally make the cut. As a Seniors finalist, his chances appear promising, especially following reports that first-ballot hopefuls like Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft were not selected, which could influence the committee”s decisions.
While Gore, who ranks third on the NFL”s all-time rushing list, also has a strong case, he might not receive first-ballot recognition this year. However, his eventual induction into Canton seems inevitable.
At 65, Craig has previously been a finalist in 2010 and 2020 but has kept a low profile of late. Despite reuniting with fellow 49ers legends for a dinner recently, he chose not to attend last week”s premiere of “Rise of the 49ers.”
Joe Montana, the legendary quarterback, emphasized Craig”s significance to the 49ers” offensive success. “He meant everything to that offense,” Montana stated. He added, “There”s another guy in there that has done what he”s done, and there”s no reason he shouldn”t be there. Hopefully, they give him his due respect.”
Craig was a trailblazer in the NFL, being the first player to achieve 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season back in 1985. Only Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey have matched this accomplishment since. Montana praised Craig”s versatility, highlighting his ability to function as both a runner and a receiver.
As Super Bowl week unfolds in the Bay Area, memories of Eddie DeBartolo”s induction into the Hall of Fame a decade ago resonate. Former 49ers executive Carmen Policy remarked, “If Roger gets in, this team and this organization and the community is going to feel vindicated.” He noted Craig”s role as a crucial piece of Bill Walsh”s offensive legacy.
Other Seniors finalists include Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood, who join Kraft and Belichick in requiring 80 percent of the votes for induction.
Craig was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft and secured three Super Bowl titles during his eight seasons with the team. His career totals include 8,189 rushing yards, 4,911 receiving yards, and 73 total touchdowns, alongside four Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro honor in 1988.
Gore, now 42, accumulated exactly 16,000 rushing yards, surpassing Joe “The Jet” Perry to become the 49ers” all-time rushing leader with 11,073 yards from 2005 to 2013. Having played 241 games, he holds the record for the most games played by an NFL running back.
After taking the starting role in his second season, Gore consistently ran for over 1,000 yards each year, excluding one injury-shortened season. Following his time with the 49ers, he had stints with several teams, including the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins.
The 49ers” illustrious history includes Hall of Fame inductees from their 1980s dynasty like Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and Steve Young. Currently, two 49ers, McCaffrey and head coach Kyle Shanahan, will participate in the NFL Honors, with McCaffrey nominated for several accolades, including AP NFL MVP.
Shanahan is also in the running for his first AP NFL Coach of the Year award, having led his team through a challenging season to the playoffs.
