After eighteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL), celebrated placekicker Robbie Gould announced his retirement on Thursday. The news came via an article published by The Players’ Tribune
Robbie Gould announces his retirement. https://t.co/TrNzl5he4o
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 7, 2023
“Now, although football has been a really great part of my life for the past 18 years, it is with the utmost regard and appreciation that I officially announce my retirement from the National Football League,” Gould wrote at ThePlayersTribune.com. “Will I miss it? Absolutely. The fire to play and to compete definitely still burns, and I’m not sure that will ever go away. As I look back over the entirety of my career, it’s kind of ironic because the thing I’m going to miss the most isn’t really even all that much about the actual game of football. I’ll miss being a part of a football team. The plane rides, the pregame meals, the companionship, the locker room culture, the workouts, and the grind of one unit trying to accomplish a common goal of winning — that part can’t be replaced.”
Turning 41 yesterday, the proud husband and father revealed that he now wishes to focus more time and effort on his family.
This decision marks the end of Gould’s proficient NFL journey, which began back in 2005.
Hailing from Penn State, Robbie Gould kicked off his successful career as an undrafted free agent signed by the Chicago Bears in 2005.
For eleven seasons, Gould wore the Bears uniform and swiftly proved his worth. Gould converted an impressive 85.4 percent of his 323 attempted field goals and a 99 percent of his point-after attempts with the Bears.
His exceptional performance secured a first-team All-Pro selection and a coveted Pro Bowl nod during his second season in 2006.
With a 100 percent success rate, Gould made a strong impression during his three playoff appearances with the Bears in 2005, 2006, and 2010.
During these decisive matches, he successfully converted six field goals and nineteen extra points.
Gould then plied his trade with the New York Giants in the 2016 season. the seasoned kicker helped the team secure a spot for Wild Card Weekend.
At 34, most footballers would consider retirement. But Gould, after a dozen seasons, still had the fire burning and thus moved to the San Francisco 49ers.
His six-year stint with the 49ers solidified his legacy in the NFL further. He posted a field-goal percentage of 87.5 and a point-after attempt conversion rate of 96.1 percent.
He retires with a career field-goal percentage of 86.5 and an extra-point conversion rate of 97.5 percent. Accumulating a total of 1,961 points scored during his career places him firmly amongst the league’s most reliable kickers.
