Robbie Gould has achieved rather a lot in his skilled life.
He has performed in 261 NFL video games, together with playoffs, and made 440 of his 505 field-goal makes an attempt. He’s led the league in each variety of area targets made and field-goal share. He’s been to 2 Tremendous Bowls and is making an attempt to get to a 3rd when he and the 49ers play the Rams in Sunday’s NFC Championship sport at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
It’s been an incredible 17-year experience for a child out of a tiny blue-collar city in the course of Pennsylvania known as Jersey Shore.
Gould is proud to discuss his unlikely journey and all of the accomplishments which have been born from the work ethic he drew from his father, who’s in his twenty eighth 12 months as a postal worker driving a rural mail supply route.
However while you wish to speak to the 39-year-old Gould about maybe his biggest and arguably most important accomplishment as a kicker, he develops a sudden case of amnesia.
When The Publish requested Gould over the cellphone this week about the truth that he’s made all 20 of his field-goal makes an attempt within the postseason, a exceptional feat that occurs to be an NFL document, he stated: “I don't know what you’re speaking about.’’
Honest sufficient.
So, we’ll discuss it.
Gould’s twentieth consecutive playoff area aim is the rationale he and the 49ers are enjoying the Rams on Sunday for a berth into Tremendous Bowl 56.
It was Gould’s 45-yard area aim as time expired to present the 49ers a 13-10 victory over the Packers on frozen Lambeau Area with snow showers swirling within the frigid Saturday evening air that allowed San Francisco to outlive and advance over No. 1 seed Inexperienced Bay.
“For no matter motive, when the stress’s on he will get extra targeted in — and that’s what makes him such an ideal kicker,’’ Robbie’s youthful brother Chris, an assistant particular groups coach for the Broncos since 2015, instructed The Publish.
“You’re a f—ing legend, man,’’ 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo yelled to Gould as they celebrated at Lambeau Area.
Gould, humble and appreciative for every part he has, doesn’t see himself in that kind of bombastic means.
However he does perceive the ability of clutch postseason kicks as a result of Adam Vinatieri, the previous Patriots and Colts nice, was one in every of his favourite kickers to look at when he was youthful.
The Patriots, the place Vinatieri made his identify, had been the primary crew Gould signed with after he completed a considerably undistinguished profession at Penn State, the place he made solely 63.9 % of his area targets, a quantity that’ll get you fired fairly rapidly within the NFL.
“He’s a man that I’ve all the time regarded as much as as a kicking position mannequin, as a result of he was a man that all the time made the clutch kicks,’’ Gould stated. “The playoffs make your legacy.’’
These 20 consecutive postseason area targets made (and counting) are cementing Gould’s legacy.
Gould, who performed his first 11 seasons with the Bears earlier than they launched him in 2016, has an opportunity to reinforce his legacy Sunday in Los Angeles, after which once more maybe in Tremendous Bowl LVI in the identical stadium two weeks later.
“I’ve by no means been in such a relaxed place, such a peaceable soccer Zen after I’m kicking than the place I'm now,’’ Gould stated. “I’m simply enjoying in a spot the place my thoughts’s clear, in a spot the place I’m actually safe with what I’ve been in a position to do and the legacy that I’ll depart behind. That’s freed me up rather a lot to play extra assured soccer.’’
Gould was stung when the Bears let him go. He wished to complete his profession in Chicago, the place he nonetheless makes his full-time dwelling.
However he felt blessed to land with the Giants for the ultimate 10 video games of the 2016 season, making all 10 of his field-goal makes an attempt. Gould felt a direct bond with the Mara household and stated members of the group nonetheless textual content him after he makes huge kicks resembling final week’s sport winner.
“As soon as a Large, all the time a Large,’’ Gould stated. “They undoubtedly embody that. I solely performed there 13 weeks and I recognize texts that I’ve obtained from them. A variety of the folks from the group nonetheless comply with my profession. That’s why that tradition in that constructing is so good, as a result of they do take note of those that come and go.’’
San Francisco supplied Gould a greater contract in 2017, so Gould went to the 49ers, has been with them since and that’s actually the place his profession will finish — every time that's.
“If it ended tomorrow, I made it,’’ Gould stated. “If somebody instructed me tomorrow that it’s over, I’d be like, ‘All proper, it was a enjoyable run.’ ’’
Sunday might be Gould’s fourth profession NFC Championship sport.
“I’m hoping to make my third Tremendous Bowl, and hopefully the third time’s a allure,’’ he stated. “I don’t imagine in chasing a hoop. I believe you must work to earn it.’’
That’s the one means Gould is aware of the way to do it.
Post a Comment