49ers notebook: Gore wants to keep running

SANTA CLARA - Jim Harbaugh is not the only prominent figure who will be leaving the 49ers. Some of his assistant coaches almost certainly will follow him. Others will not be retained by the new coach. And many key players are about to become free agents, including wide receiver Michael Crabtree, guard Mike Iupati, and cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox.

But in terms of significance to the organization and its fan base, they all pale in comparison to halfback Frank Gore, a free agent after 10 stellar seasons.

“We would all love to have Frank back,” left tackle Joe Staley said. “He is my favorite football player of all time. I have learned so much from him. I have the most respect for him both as a football player and as a man. Saying that, I want what is best for him.”

Gore knows the 49ers have two younger backs waiting in the wings, Carlos Hyde and Kendall Hunter. At the same time, he made it clear that he would love to stay in Santa Clara.

“I cried before today, because when I got here I was 21,” Gore said. “You know, 10 years and I’ve never been in this situation. I’ve always been under contract and knowing it might be my last game here, it was tough. It was tough because this is all I knew. When I first got here, I was a kid.”

If the 49ers’ 20-17 victory against the Arizona Cardinals was Gore’s final game here, he certainly went out in style. With 144 rushing yards, he went over 1,000 for the season (for the eighth time) and 11,000 for his career. He is the 20th NFL running back to reach that milestone.

SO LONG, COWBOY?

Defensive lineman Justin Smith is not a free agent, but he, too, may be moving on. NFL Network’s Alex Flanagan tweeted before the game, “I’m hearing this will be 49ers DT Justin Smith’s last game. Retirement looming after 14 yrs. in the NFL.”

The idea was lent some credence after the game by linebacker Dan Skuta, who said: “I’m excited for Justin Smith and any other guy that might not be here next year. I’m excited that they got to go out with a win. Might be Justin’s last game ever, so just excited for him.”

Smith may have been the 49ers’ most valuable player during the Harbaugh era. He’s a five-time Pro Bowl pick, a two-time All-Pro and a two-time winner of the Bill Walsh Award, the team MVP award as voted on by the coaches.

THE FUTURE OF KAEPERNICK

Of all the 49ers players, the guy most reluctant to see Harbaugh leave might by quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Harbaugh lobbied the 49ers to draft Kaepernick in 2011, installed him as the starter after Alex Smith suffered a concussion in 2012 and never wavered in his public support of the QB, even when Kaepernick seemed to regress this season.

“A lot of us have been with coach Harbaugh since he’s been here,” Kaepernick said. “And the players that were here before him saw how he turned things around and turned this organization back into a winning one. It’s tough to let that go, but at the same time, we have to keep moving forward as players.”

Harbaugh has been clear in his assessment of Kaepernick, insisting that he is a top-flight quarterback, and is only going to get better. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree didn’t sound as convinced.

“I don’t know what the future is, you know?” Crabtree said when asked if Kaepernick can become a dominant NFL quarterback. “Hopefully he can.”

EXTRA POINTS

Anquan Boldin’s 76-yard touchdown catch was the second longest of his career, behind only a 79-yarder in 2008.

Arizona’s first touchdown Sunday came on a flea flicker, with quarterback Ryan Lindley handing off to running back Marion Grice, who pitched back to Lindley, who threw to Michael Floyd for the 20-yard score over cornerback Dontae Johnson.

Harbaugh joined George Seifert (1989-1996) as the only 49ers head coaches never to post a losing record.