Another former NFL player involved in an alleged domestic violence dispute. This time it’s former San Francisco 49ers’ running back Frank Gore. The five-time Pro Bowler was charged with simple assault this week stemming from an incident last month with a 28-year-old woman in Atlantic City, according to reports.
Court documents reveal that police say Gore grabbed a woman by her hair while she was naked and dragged her across a hallway of a hotel.
Gore “violently dragging her nude person along the floor of the 59th hallway” after “forcibly” grabbing her hair, at the Tropicana Casino’s Havana Tower, according to documents.
Police arrived at the scene shortly after 8 a.m. on July 31, and did not immediately make an arrest as the woman who spoke to hotel security about the incident “did not exhibit signs of injury.”
Gore is due in court for a hearing in October.
This latest incident of course brings to mind the Ray Rice situation. One of the ugliest cases of domestic violence involving an NFL player.
In 2014 Rice and his then fiancée, now wife, were involved in a brutal domestic violence incident at a casino in Atlantic City. Security footage of Rice and Janay Palmer in an elevator with Rice seen punching Palmer in the face and dragging her out of the elevator. Rice was only suspended for two games the next season, a punishment commissioner Roger Goodell later admitted wasn’t strong enough.
Later that year Goodell and the NFL owners agreed to a revised and strengthened code of conduct policy for players and league employees.
In 2018, then Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt was caught on video pushing and kicking a women in a Cleveland hotel. Hunt was ultimately suspended eight games by the NFL and now plays for the Cleveland Browns, though he’s recently asked for a trade.
Gore played 16 seasons in the NFL, remarkable for his position. He played Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in addition to the 49ers. He is third all-time in NFL rushing yards. His 16,000 rushing yards trail only Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith. In terms of accumulation that’s Hall of Fame worthy production.
In addition to his five Pro-Bowl selections he was an All-Pro in 2006 and named to the 2010s NFL All-Decade team.
Gore officially retired from the NFL earlier this year and hinted at wanting to possibly work in the 49ers front office.
“I love evaluating talent and I love ball,” Gore said. “And they know that I know football players — what it’s supposed to take to be a football player.”
Back in April when Gore made those comments, the sentiment was shared by 49ers CEO Jed York.
“Frank is somebody I’ve always stayed close with, even after he left for Indy,” York said Sunday. “I would love to have Frank help us. I know his passion for the game, his eye for talent.”
No word on whether or not Gore and York agreed to a formal role and, given the current circumstances, that might put things on ice at least temporarily.
