If ever a sports fandom were hereditary, that of the Buffalo Bills would likely qualify. In Western New York, supporting the local football outfit isn’t as much a voluntary decision as it is an inherited attribute, occasionally even manifesting in the form of newborns being baptized by being (gently) placed through a table. Playing for the team, however, is generally a more exclusive club—several local families support the team, but few boast members who have taken a snap for them.
No stranger to being an outlier, the Gore family seems set to buck this trend. Former Southern Mississippi running back Frank Gore Jr. signed with the Bills after going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining the same team that his father—legendary NFL rusher Frank Gore—spent the 2019 NFL season with. The elder Gore’s unparalleled NFL career is well-documented; the former Miami Hurricane entered the NFL with injury concerns in 2005, overcoming all odds and obstacles to construct a 16-season NFL career in which he appeared in the most games ever by a running back (241) and rushed for 16,000 yards, good for third in NFL history.
The fact that Gore’s son is joining the team only five years after his stint is perplexing; even though Buffalo is merely a footnote in his Hall of Fame-worthy career, it makes one feel like they have wrinkles growing under their eyes. Going to play with the same quarterback and managing the same front office that his father did just five years ago, Gore Jr. is not the type of prospect that signs with a team that their father played for “back in the day.”
While Buffalo may only be a minor part of Gore’s impressive career, the fact that his son is now joining the team so soon after his own time there is both surprising and a reminder of aging. This isn’t just a case of a young player following in his father’s footsteps, as Gore Jr. will be playing alongside the same quarterback and under the same front office his father did just five years ago.
From a sentimental perspective, this is quite impactful, but looking at it from a football standpoint, Gore Jr. has a real chance to make the Bills’ roster given their current backfield situation. In a recent ranking by Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports, Gore Jr. was placed fifth on the list of best undrafted free agent signings and landing spots from the 2024 NFL Draft process. While not a fully developed prospect, Gore Jr. has specific skills, particularly his elusiveness, that could make him a contender for a spot on the team.
Trapasso noted that Gore Jr. was difficult to tackle at Southern Miss, where he forced a significant number of missed tackles on his carries. With over 4,000 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns in his college career, he proved himself as a valuable player for the Golden Eagles.
Initially committed to Florida Atlantic, Gore Jr. switched to Southern Miss and made a name for himself on the field, showcasing his talent and potential for a successful NFL career.
