Robbie Gould, a former NFL kicker, has formally declared his retirement from the game. The 41-year-old looked back on his 18-year career and thanked football for its impact on his life in a piece he wrote for The Players’ Tribune.
“While football has been a significant part of my life for the past 18 years, I am announcing my retirement from the National Football League with the utmost regard and appreciation,” Gould said in a statement.
With 1,961 points scored and 447 made field goals, Gould is ranked 10th in league history. He is well-known for his remarkable career statistics. He is sixth all-time in field goal attempts made, with a career success percentage of 86.4%.
Gould became a reliable force in the NFL after playing for the San Francisco 49ers, where he was one of the first free agents acquired by general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan in 2017. Gould was attracted to the team’s potential and the culture they were creating, notwithstanding their past performance.
With the 49ers the previous season, Gould continued to write franchise history, ranking second in field goals (161) and fourth in scoring (704). His outstanding effort included a pivotal 45-yard field goal that sent the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in January 2022 during the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers.
Gould spoke warmly of the city and its supporters as he reflected on his ten seasons with the Chicago Bears before to joining the 49ers. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl in 2006 and finished as the Bears’ all-time leading scorer with 1,207 points.
Going back to his days in Chicago, which he called “home,” Gould relished his time there, from special playoff experiences to long playoff runs. He thanked the McCaskey family for giving him the chance to fulfill his boyhood ambition of meeting his wife and raising their three kids in the city.
Gould disclosed that he intends to fully enjoy the next phase of his life in Chicago, which has a particular place in his heart. He expressed his excitement about spending more time with his family and that he is ready for a life away from football where he can concentrate on the things that really matter to him.
“After being away for large chunks of my children’s lives, I am ready for this next stage without interruption,” Gould said in a letter. “My career has naturally filled my schedule, and now, without interruption, I’m ready for this next stage of life.”
