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Frank Gore’s Hall of Fame bid advances to next round

SANTA CLARA – Frank Gore has cleared another step, albeit a modest and expected one, toward becoming a first-ballot member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gore, the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher and the NFL’s third-most productive ever, is among 52 candidates to advance in the voting process from a field of 128 nominees.

Other former 49ers also in contention are 1992-94 rusher/receiver Ricky Watters and 2013-15 leading receiver Anquan Boldin.

Also advancing with Gore in their first year of eligibility are quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, along with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, center Maurkice Pouncey and tight ends Greg Olsen and Jason Witten.

There will be 15 modern-era players to reach the final voting stage, along with three seniors, one coach and one contributor. Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri automatically are in that 15-man cut by virtue of being finalists last year, leaving 11 spots for newcomers.

Among the 12 coaches under consideration are former 49ers coach George Seifert and former Niners assistants Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren.

The 2026 Hall of Fame class will feature between four and eight members, and it will be announced Feb. 7, on the eve of Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.

Here are the 52 players who’ve so far advanced (*indicates a 15-player finalist last year):

QUARTERBACKS (3): Drew Brees, *Eli Manning, Philip Rivers.

RUNNING BACKS (8): Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy, Lorenzo Neal (FB), *Fred Taylor, Ricky Watters.

WIDE RECEIVERS (7): Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, *Torry Holt, Jimmy Smith, *Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward, *Reggie Wayne.

TIGHT ENDS (2): Greg Olsen, Jason Witten.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): *Willie Anderson (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), *Jahri Evans (G), Olin Kreutz (C), Nick Mangold (C), Logan Mankins (G), Maurkice Pouncey (C), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G), *Marshal Yanda (G).

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): John Abraham (DE also LB), Robert Mathis (DE), Haloti Ngata (DT), Simeon Rice (DE), Vince Wilfork (DT/NT), Kevin Williams (DT).

LINEBACKERS (4): London Fletcher, James Harrison, *Luke Kuechly, *Terrell Suggs.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (6): Rodney Harrison (S), Asante Samuel (CB), Earl Thomas (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), *Darren Woodson (S).

PUNTERS/KICKERS (3): Gary Anderson (K), Shane Lechler (P), *Adam Vinatieri (K).

SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB).

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