Robbie Gould

Robbie Gould's Biography

Robert Paul Gould III, widely known for his moniker Robbie Gould, was born on December 6, 1982. His athletic roots run deep as his father, Robert Gould, led Lock Haven University to a Division II national championship in soccer in 1980 as a three-time All-American player, carrying his professional career with the St. Louis Steamers in the early 1980s. Born to Cheryl and Robert Gould in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, Robbie’s early interest in professional soccer while still in high school took a pivot towards his phenomenal football journey.

In his high school years at Central Mountain High School in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, Robbie cemented his status as an all-rounder, earning letters in football, soccer, basketball, and track. Robbie’s path to football was predominantly influenced by his principal, who sent a letter of recommendation to Penn State University head football coach Joe Paterno on his behalf. Subsequently, Robbie was invited to try out as a freshman walk-on. This marked the initiation of his transformation into one of the most accurate placekickers in the history of the National Football League (NFL).

He joined Penn State, where he participated in the Nittany Lions football team and acquired a degree in business management. Throughout his four-year tenure, Robbie succeeded in converting 115 of 121 extra point attempts and 39 of 61 field goal attempts.

The undrafted Robbie was initially signed by the New England Patriots as a free agent in 2005. Although the Patriots already had an illustrious Super Bowl-winning placekicker Adam Vinatieri, Robbie’s potential shone unfazed. However, destiny had other plans when he was released from the Patriots in preseason and later from the Baltimore Ravens. A brief stint with M&R Contracting in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, saw Robbie juggling football dreams with construction work.

When the Chicago Bears signed Robbie Gould in October 2005 after the Week 3 injury of their starting kicker, Doug Brien, Robbie found the perfect platform to display his prowess. His first NFL field goal came barely a week later, in a match against the Cleveland Browns. He soon bagged the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his impressive performance against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9.

In the Bears’ 2006 action-packed season, Robbie broke at least one significant record and won several honours. He surpassed former Bears’ Kevin Butler’s record of most consecutive field goals, winning the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month along the way. His 25-yard field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured the Bears’ home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. He also helped the Bears advance in the NFC Championship against the Seattle Seahawks with a long 49-yard field goal during overtime. Although the Bears were ultimately defeated by the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI, Robbie earned First Team All-Pro honors.

Robbie’s tenure with the Bears was marked by consistent success, memorable game-winning field goals, and outstanding records. From 2006 to 2015, Robbie Gould proved his worth in every season, becoming the highest-paid professional kicker by 2008. His quad injury in 2014 slightly dipped his performance but didn’t shun his spirit. Despite his struggles during the later half of the 2015 season, Robbie concluded the year leading the Bears in scoring with 127 points. He was honored with the Ed Block Courage Award in 2016 but was released by the Bears in a surprising cost-saving move later that year.

The New York Giants signed Robbie in October 2016 following Josh Brown’s domestic abuse investigation. Despite wearing a new number, Robbie made a winning debut with the Giants, kicking a field goal against the Los Angeles Rams. In his limited time with the Giants, Robbie convincingly proved his worth by converting all his 10 field goal attempts.

In 2017, Robbie signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. His debut game with the 49ers saw him kicking a 44-yard field goal against the Carolina Panthers. His last game of 2017 season showcased his excellence when he kicked five field goals against the Chicago Bears, his former team, leading the 49ers to a 15-14 victory. As the 2017 season concluded, Robbie emerged third in scoring with 145 points.

2018 continued to keep Robbie in the limelight with exceptional performances that won him the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice and NFC Special Teams Player of the Month once. He was voted as an alternate to the 2018 Pro Bowl, and his 94.1% field goal conversion made him the second most accurate kicker in the NFL during that time.

Robbie Gould’s playing mettle was recognized yet again when the 49ers placed the franchise tag on him in 2019. Despite a minor hiccup where Robbie requested a trade from San Francisco, he agreed to a four-year, $19 million extension with the team later that year.

The spectacular performance continued for Robbie in the 2019 season, where he kicked two game-winning field goals. He was bestowed with the honor of NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in December and NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his match-winning performance against the Los Angeles Rams.

In Super Bowl LIV, Robbie aced every goal opportunity with both his field goals, taking his career playoff totals to 15-for-15. Unfortunately, the 49ers lost the championship.

Robbie’s journey so far is truly a testament to his unwavering passion and commitment to the sport. His perseverance and hard work have cemented his legacy as one of the most accurate placekickers in NFL history. Despite facing setbacks and challenges, Robbie has remained unfazed and always bounced back with renewed vigor, demonstrating his exceptional talent and dedication.