San Francisco 49ers RB Frank Gore on Video: Top 5 Career Rushing Touchdowns

49ers running back Frank Gore is quietly one of the most respected backs in the NFL.

Coaches love him because he always fights and nearly always gains positive yardage. Heck, Brian Billick, Fox announcer and former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, revealed in a telecast earlier this season that he has a man-crush on Gore.

Teammates appreciate him because he goes about his business in a humble, professional manner. Not to mention he has a tendency to win his team football games.

Opposing defenses honor him (with just a little fear mixed in) for the countless bone-jarring hits they've received from this bruising beast of a man.

Reporters and former players laud him for his no-nonsense play and willingness to fight through injuries on a yearly basis (to be sure, all those mentioned value these qualities)

Fans adore him for his home run-hitting abilities game in and game out.

Speaking of which, let us embark on a quick journey exploring Gore's top-five career rushing TDs.  

Criteria

Gore has 11 TDs of 30 yards or more in his career. This yardage mark became the baseline qualification for his top five career rushing touchdowns.*

*Exception: No. 5 on this list made the cut based on the sheer impact of the score on the team's win-loss record for the 2011 season.

After establishing 30 yards as the minimum, the next qualifier was length of the TD beyond that mark.

Then came the skill level and entertainment factor. How many tackles did he break/elude? How many did he out-maneuver/race on his way to the end zone? Was the defense stacking eight or nine guys in the box? Or did he go all the way untouched because the offensive line created such gaping holes? Did it come on a delayed draw play on 3rd-and-long or was it an obvious running down on 4th-and-short?

Another criteria was whether his TD run contributed to a tie, lead or go-ahead score for the game.

Similarly, did his rushing score have a positive impact on the outcome of the season?

Finally, and simply put, was Gore or his supporting cast more responsible for the touchdown run?

Honorable Mentions

11/25/07 @ Arizona Cardinals

35 yards; wide open hole, eluded one late arm tackle; line score of 21-116-2; occurred on 1st-and-10; provided 31-28 lead in 4th quarter; team won 37-31 in OT; improved record to 3-8; finished 5-11

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d8048686d/Week-12-Frank-Gore-highlights; 1:53-2:02

10/23/05 @ Washington Redskins *(Unable to retrieve quality video highlight)

72 yards; rookie season; third-longest run of career; line score of 9-89-1; occurred on 1st-and-10 in garbage time when team was down 10-52 in 4th quarter; team lost 17-52

11/1/09 @ Indianapolis Colts

64 yards; fourth-longest run of career; delayed hand-off, bounced off defensive front, broke one ankle tackle, broke two subsequent tackles, outran DB and DE; line score of 13-91-1; occurred on 2nd-and-5; provided 7-0 lead in 1st quarter; team lost 14-18

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d813d992f/Frank-Gore-64-yd-TD

No. 5: 10/2/11 @ Philadelphia Eagles

10/2/11 @ Philadelphia Eagles

Yards Gained: 12

Skill Factor: cut through jammed defensive contingent of lineman/linebackers; dragged CB Asante Samuel to goal line, reached end zone with Samuel still holding on

Line Score: 15-127-1

Down and Distance: 1st-and-10

Game Impact: go-ahead TD in 4th quarter providing 24-23 lead (w/extra point); team won by same score

Season Impact: improved record to 3-1; second of eight-game winning streak; dropped Eagles record to 1-3; third of four-game losing streak 

No. 4: 9/20/09 vs. Seattle Seahawks

9/20/09 vs. Seattle Seahawks

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d812c5415/WK-2-Can-t-Miss-Play-Gore-goes-off

Yards Gained: 80 (career-long)

Skill Factor: defense stacked nine guys in the box; great blocking; open holes; never touched; zig-zagged through defense; juked one defender; outran DBs; second TD rush of 70 yards or more on the day

Line Score: 16-207-2

Down and Distance: 1st-and-10

Game Impact: extended lead to 20-10 in 3rd quarter; team won 23-10

Season Impact: improved record to 2-0; finished 8-8; dropped Seahawks record to 1-1; first of three-game losing streak

No. 3: 9/16/07 @ St. Louis Rams

9/16/07 @ St. Louis Rams

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d8026241a/Can-t-Miss-Play-Frank-Gore-TD-run

Yards Gained: 43

Skill Factor: defense stacked in the box; no initial running room; bounced off two defenders at the line; broke one tackle; eluded another tackle; juked three defenders

Line Score: 20-81-2

Down and Distance: 4th-and-1

Game Impact: provided 14-13 lead in 3rd quarter (w/ extra point); team won 17-16

Season Impact: improved record to 2-0; team finished 5-11; dropped Rams record to 0-2; second of eight-game losing streak

No. 2: 11/12/06 @ Detroit Lions

11/12/06 @ Detroit Lions

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80133c1f/49ers-19-Lions-13 (0:06-0:24)

Yards Gained: 62 (fifth-longest of career)

Skill Set: delayed hand-off; broke two initial tackles; ran DB over; eluded two more defenders en route to end zone

Line Score: 22-159-1

Down and Distance: 3rd-and-16

Game Impact: provided 7-0 lead in 1st quarter; team won 19-13

Season Impact: improved record to 4-5; second of three-game winning streak; finished season at 7-9; dropped Lions record to 2-7; first of seven-game losing streak 

No. 1: 9/20/09 vs. Seattle Seahawks

9/20/09 vs. Seattle Seahawks

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d812c2dad/WK-2-Can-t-Miss-Play-Gore-s-first-big-run  

Yards Gained: 79 (second-longest of career)

Skill Factor: defense stacked nine guys in the box; ran through first level of the defense; changed direction; outran two DBs; dove into right corner of end zone to evade final two defenders

Line Score: 16-207-2

Down and Distance: 1st-and-10

Game Impact: extended lead to 10-0 in 1st quarter; team won 23-10

Season Impact: improved record to 2-0; finished 8-8; dropped Seahawks record to 1-1; first of three-game losing streak 

Baller

Fellow Niners Fans,

Here's to Gore breaking one off 81-plus in one of the five remaining games of 2011.

My guess? This week (12/4) against the Rams and their abominable No. 32 rushing defense that has allowed 1,749 yards, 159/g, and most importantly, an NFL-high 91-yard rushing TD.

Time to shine once again, Frank.