Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen grew up a 49ers fan, and he got a heck of a gift from a franchise legend and former teammate.
Running back Frank Gore, the 49ers' all-time leading rusher, played alongside Allen in Buffalo last season. Gore made quite an impression on the young signal-caller, who told Kelli Johnson at the NFL Awards earlier this year that the running back was "the greatest human being alive," and that was before he gave Allen a signed, game-worn 49ers jersey.
During the Bills' 26-15 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Sunday Night Football," NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico recalled asking Allen if he wore the No. 17 -- which Tirico said was extremely popular in Buffalo -- growing up.
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"I said, 'What was your jersey as a kid?' " Tirico recounted. "He said, 'Well, I grew up a Niners fan.' He's from the valley. 'So I had a Jeff Garcia jersey.' And he said, 'I had a Frank Gore jersey.' So last year, Frank Gore is his teammate.
"And Frank did a lot for the young players, laying a foundation and Josh said one of the coolest things that meant so much to him was Frank dug up a game-worn 49ers jersey and signed it and gave it to Josh so he could get the real thing from the real thing, Frank Gore."
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Allen followed up his dominant performance against his childhood team on Monday with a win over what was the AFC's top team entering Sunday, throwing for 238 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. The Bills moved two games ahead of the Miami Dolphins for first place in the NFC East, and they can clinch the division as soon as next week.
San Francisco 49ers
Buffalo hasn't won a division title of any kind since 1995, before Allen was born. If seeing him play alongside a childhood hero last season didn't make Bills fans feel old, someone younger than their divisional drought ending it probably will.