Frank Gore Jr. Bio
Franklin Gore Jr., known professionally as Frank Gore Jr., is an American professional football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and joined the Bills in 2024 as an undrafted free agent. He is the son of former NFL running back Frank Gore Sr., one of the most durable rushers in league history.
Standing 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) and listed at 195 lb (88 kg), Gore Jr. has carved out his own identity through record-setting bowl performances and perseverance after going undrafted. He continues to build a professional résumé with the Buffalo Bills organization.
Early Life and Background
Frank Gore Jr. was born on March 13, 2002, in Miami, Florida, USA. He grew up in a football household as the son of Frank Gore, the long-time NFL running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers and several other franchises during a lengthy pro career. From an early age, Gore Jr. was surrounded by the rhythms of professional football through his father’s career.
He attended Miami Killian Senior High School in Florida, where he played both quarterback and running back. As a senior rusher, he compiled 1,111 yards and thirteen touchdowns on 113 carries, establishing himself as a productive and versatile offensive player. That dual-threat background at the prep level helped shape his football instincts heading into college.
Following high school, Gore Jr. originally committed to Florida Atlantic before flipping his commitment to Southern Miss, choosing to develop his game in the Sun Belt Conference. The decision would later prove pivotal for his college trajectory.
Path to American Football
Gore Jr.’s route to the NFL followed a steady developmental path that began with a productive senior season at Miami Killian. His senior-year rushing totals drew attention from college programs and helped position him as a desirable recruit.
At Southern Miss, he stepped into a featured role as a true freshman and led the Golden Eagles with 708 rushing yards on 121 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt. He posted three 100-yard games during that debut season, with notable performances against North Texas, North Alabama, and Florida Atlantic, and added a 51-yard rushing touchdown in a 20–23 loss to UTSA. His early impact earned him second-team all-conference and all-freshman recognition.
Through his subsequent seasons, Gore Jr. continued to log significant carries for the Golden Eagles and added responsibilities as a passer. He was named starting quarterback prior to a week eleven game against Louisiana Tech and threw two touchdowns in a Southern Miss victory, showcasing the versatility he first displayed in high school.
Frank Gore Jr. Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Gore Jr. opened his college career at Southern Miss in 2020 and immediately contributed on the ground. His freshman production made him one of the most talked-about young rushers in the Sun Belt, and his all-freshman recognition reflected his rapid transition to the college level.
Through the first ten games of his second season, he compiled 731 rushing yards on 162 carries and scored two touchdowns while continuing to develop as a pass-catching option out of the backfield. He also logged his first significant work as a passer during that year, giving the Golden Eagles a flexible offensive weapon.
College Breakthrough (2022–2023)
The 2022 season marked the high point of Gore Jr.’s college career. He earned First-team All-Sun Belt honors that year and delivered one of the most memorable individual bowl performances in recent memory.
In the 2022 LendingTree Bowl against Rice, Gore Jr. rushed for 329 yards, setting an FBS bowl game rushing record. He scored three touchdowns in that contest, two on the ground and one through the air, capping the Golden Eagles’ season in historic fashion. The performance cemented his reputation as a marquee college running back entering his senior year.
He was later named the offensive MVP of the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl, a postseason all-star game that further showcased his skills for NFL evaluators. Across his four college seasons, he added two Second-team All-Sun Belt selections, in 2020 and 2023, giving him three all-conference honors in total.
Buffalo Bills Era (2024–Present)
Following the 2023 college season and his Shrine Bowl appearance, Gore Jr. entered the 2024 NFL draft but went undrafted. He signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent, beginning his professional career in a competitive backfield. On August 27, 2024, he was released and re-signed to the practice squad the following day as the team shaped its regular-season roster.
On January 27, 2025, Gore Jr. signed a reserve/future contract with the Bills, securing his place in the organization beyond that season. He was again released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, continuing a pattern of perseverance through roster movement.
On January 11, 2026, Gore Jr. was called up to the active roster for the Bills’ Wild Card Round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, replacing injured running back Ty Johnson. In his postseason debut, he caught one pass from quarterback Josh Allen for six yards and did not record a carry in limited action. He signed another reserve/futures contract with Buffalo on January 19, 2026, extending his tenure with the franchise.
Driving Style and Strengths
Though not a traditional every-down feature back at the NFL level, Gore Jr. brings a versatile skill set shaped by his dual-threat background. His experience as a college passer, combined with vision, balance, and pass-catching ability, allows him to contribute in multiple roles. His familiarity with the Bills’ system through practice-squad development has positioned him as a reliable depth option who can step in when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gore Jr.’s signature moment remains his 329-yard rushing performance in the 2022 LendingTree Bowl, an FBS bowl game record that stands as the highlight of his college résumé. He has also earned First-team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2022 and two Second-team All-Sun Belt selections in 2020 and 2023. His offensive MVP award at the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl further underscored his pro potential.
Frank Gore Jr. Career Wins
At the college level, Frank Gore Jr. helped Southern Miss secure multiple Sun Belt victories across his four seasons, including a road win over Louisiana Tech during his sophomore year in which he threw two touchdowns as a temporary starting quarterback. His 2022 LendingTree Bowl performance also earned the Golden Eagles a signature bowl victory against Rice.
Southern Miss Highlights
Over his college career at Southern Miss (2020–2023), Gore Jr. recorded three 100-yard rushing games as a freshman and delivered the historic 329-yard, three-touchdown effort in the 2022 LendingTree Bowl against Rice. His three all-conference selections across his four seasons underscore his consistency as one of the program’s top offensive players.
Other Wins & Performances
Gore Jr. was named the offensive MVP of the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl, a key postseason showcase for NFL draft prospects. His college production and postseason recognition helped him earn an undrafted free-agent opportunity with the Buffalo Bills in 2024.
Frank Gore Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gore Jr. comes from a football-first family. His father, Frank Gore, played in the NFL as a running back and ranks among the league’s most accomplished rushers. Growing up around the game gave Gore Jr. an early and sustained exposure to the demands of professional football, shaping both his expectations and work ethic as he developed his own career.
Personal Life
Frank Gore Jr. was born and raised in Miami, Florida, where he attended Miami Killian Senior High School. Public details about his personal relationships, marital status, and children are not clearly documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Gore Jr. spent the bulk of the 2025 NFL season on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad after signing a reserve/future contract in January 2025. His work in practice helped him remain in the team’s plans as a depth option at running back, even as the Bills managed a competitive backfield rotation. Continued development within the Bills’ system has been the central storyline of his 2025 campaign.
That work paid off when the Bills elevated him to the active roster on January 11, 2026, for the Wild Card Round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars following an injury to Ty Johnson. In his postseason debut, Gore Jr. caught one pass from Josh Allen for six yards in limited action, giving him his first official NFL game appearance. The opportunity validated his persistence through multiple practice-squad stints with Buffalo.
Following the playoff game, Gore Jr. signed another reserve/futures contract with the Bills on January 19, 2026, securing his continued role with the organization. His outlook remains tied to carving out a larger place in the Buffalo backfield as a versatile, pass-catching complement to the team’s primary rushers.