Robbie Gould
Encyclopedia
Robert Paul "Robbie" Gould III (icon; born December 30, 1981) is an American football
placekicker
for the Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
at Penn State
. He is currently the third most accurate kicker in NFL history.
, Pennsylvania
. His father was a three-time All-America
n soccer
player who led Lock Haven University
to a Division III national championship in 1977. and was drafted by the St. Louis Steamers
in the early 80s. His brother, Christopher
, was formerly a kicker and punter for the University of Virginia
. (Chris now plays for the Chicago Rush
of the Arena Football League) He attended Central Mountain High School
in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania
, where he won letters in football, soccer, basketball, and track. During the 2000 Boys' Soccer District Championship, Gould scored the game winning goal with seconds left. Although originally interested in becoming a professional soccer player, he eventually chose to pursue a career in football, asking his high school principal to send a letter of recommendation to Penn State head football coach, Joe Paterno
, who invited Gould to try out as a freshman walk-on.
The defending Super Bowl
champion New England Patriots
signed rookie free-agent Gould prior to the 2005 NFL preseason, despite the fact they already had Adam Vinatieri
. Following his preseason release from the Patriots, Gould next signed with the Baltimore Ravens
, only to be waived three weeks later. Following his stint with Baltimore, Gould worked construction at M&R Contracting in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. The Bears
signed him on October 8, 2005, following the Week 3 injury of their starting kicker, Doug Brien
. Gould kicked his first NFL field goal the next week in a 20–10 loss at Cleveland
, and his first game-winner in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints
. He would finish the 2005 season with a 77% field goal percentage and hitting all but one of his 20 PAT
attempts.
Gould kicked 26 consecutive field goals during the 2006 NFL season
. His accomplishments broke former Bears’ kicker Kevin Butler
’s record of most consecutive field goals, and landed him acclaim as the NFL Special Teams Player of the Month for October 2006. Additionally, NFL fans across the nation selected Gould as the NFC’s kicker for the 2007 Pro Bowl. He was also named to the 2006 All-Pro team by the Associated Press
. Gould made a 25-yard field goal in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, allowing the Bears to emerge victorious and clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. On January 14, 2007, Gould kicked a 49-yard field goal in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks
, enabling the Bears to win their first divisional playoff game since 1988 and advance to the NFC Championship game. The Bears won the NFC Championship game, but lost Super Bowl XLI
, 29–17.
Gould was named NFC special teams player of the month for December 2008 after making all eight of his field goal attempts, including two game-winners in overtime. Gould became just the fourth kicker in NFL history to hit game-winning field goals in overtime in back-to-back games. Gould converted 26 of 29 field goal attempts (89.7 percent) in 2008, breaking his own franchise single-season record for accuracy. Going into the 2009 season, Gould had converted 84.8 of his career field goal attempts. He has only ever missed one extra point
attempt.
On May 12, 2008, Gould signed an extension with the Bears that would keep him on the team through the 2013 season. The contract, reportedly worth $15.5 million, which includes a $4.25 million signing bonus
, makes Gould the NFL's highest-paid kicker.
On October 10, 2010 Gould kicked a career long 53-yard field goal against the Carolina Panthers
. Goulds previous best was 52.5 yards against the Detroit Lions during the 2009 NFL Regular Season. Gould also moved up to second place on the career most accurate NFL kickers list, moving in front of Mike Vanderjagt, but still behind Nate Kaeding. On December 5, Gould increased his career long with a 54-yard field goal inside the domed Ford Field
against the Detroit Lions
.
He is good friends with teammate Patrick Mannelly
and who directly assists Gould on every field goal and extra point attempt as the long snapper
.
Gould performed Take me out to the ball game
during the Seventh inning stretch at a Chicago Cubs
' game on April 17, 2009, after throwing the first pitch. He later had an interview with WGN-TV
's commentators, Len Kasper
and Bob Brenly
.
Despite the misleading spelling of his surname, "Gould" is pronounced "gōld", just like gold
, prompting many announcers to use the phrase "Gould is gold" or "Good as Gould" when scoring a field goal.
His younger brother Chris Gould
plays for Chicago's Arena football
team Chicago Rush
.
His cousin Brandon Thomas Gould is an offensive linemen for Bethune-Cookman University in his senior year.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
. He is currently the third most accurate kicker in NFL history.
Early years
Gould was born to Cheryl and Robert Gould in Jersey ShoreJersey Shore, Pennsylvania
Jersey Shore is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is on the West Branch Susquehanna River, west by south of Williamsport. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. In the past, Jersey Shore held farms, railroad shops, cigar factories, a...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His father was a three-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who led Lock Haven University
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, commonly abbreviated LHU, is a state university in Lock Haven, in central Pennsylvania located along the Susquehanna River, and is roughly from the major towns of Williamsport and State College. Lock Haven University is one of the fourteen members of the...
to a Division III national championship in 1977. and was drafted by the St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
in the early 80s. His brother, Christopher
Chris Gould (American football)
Chris Gould is an American placekicker for the Arena Football League. He currently plays for Chicago Rush, and is the brother to Chicago Bears placekicker Robbie Gould.-College career:...
, was formerly a kicker and punter for the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. (Chris now plays for the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
of the Arena Football League) He attended Central Mountain High School
Central Mountain High School
Central Mountain High School is a public high school located in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, USA.-School history:Central Mountain High School is one of two high schools in the Keystone Central School District. Keystone Central is the geographically largest school district in Pennsylvania. Central...
in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, where he won letters in football, soccer, basketball, and track. During the 2000 Boys' Soccer District Championship, Gould scored the game winning goal with seconds left. Although originally interested in becoming a professional soccer player, he eventually chose to pursue a career in football, asking his high school principal to send a letter of recommendation to Penn State head football coach, Joe Paterno
Joe Paterno
Joseph Vincent "Joe" Paterno is a former college football coach who was the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions for 46 years from 1966 through 2011. Paterno, nicknamed "JoePa," holds the record for the most victories by an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision football coach with...
, who invited Gould to try out as a freshman walk-on.
Professional career
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
champion New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
signed rookie free-agent Gould prior to the 2005 NFL preseason, despite the fact they already had Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
. Following his preseason release from the Patriots, Gould next signed with the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
, only to be waived three weeks later. Following his stint with Baltimore, Gould worked construction at M&R Contracting in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. The Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
signed him on October 8, 2005, following the Week 3 injury of their starting kicker, Doug Brien
Doug Brien
Douglas Robert Zachariah Brien is a former American football placekicker. He played twelve seasons for seven teams in the National Football League:...
. Gould kicked his first NFL field goal the next week in a 20–10 loss at Cleveland
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and his first game-winner in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He would finish the 2005 season with a 77% field goal percentage and hitting all but one of his 20 PAT
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
attempts.
Gould kicked 26 consecutive field goals during the 2006 NFL season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
. His accomplishments broke former Bears’ kicker Kevin Butler
Kevin Butler (American football)
Kevin Gregory Butler is a former professional American football placekicker. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, and then played professionally for the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League...
’s record of most consecutive field goals, and landed him acclaim as the NFL Special Teams Player of the Month for October 2006. Additionally, NFL fans across the nation selected Gould as the NFC’s kicker for the 2007 Pro Bowl. He was also named to the 2006 All-Pro team by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. Gould made a 25-yard field goal in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, allowing the Bears to emerge victorious and clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs. On January 14, 2007, Gould kicked a 49-yard field goal in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, enabling the Bears to win their first divisional playoff game since 1988 and advance to the NFC Championship game. The Bears won the NFC Championship game, but lost Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
, 29–17.
Gould was named NFC special teams player of the month for December 2008 after making all eight of his field goal attempts, including two game-winners in overtime. Gould became just the fourth kicker in NFL history to hit game-winning field goals in overtime in back-to-back games. Gould converted 26 of 29 field goal attempts (89.7 percent) in 2008, breaking his own franchise single-season record for accuracy. Going into the 2009 season, Gould had converted 84.8 of his career field goal attempts. He has only ever missed one extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
attempt.
On May 12, 2008, Gould signed an extension with the Bears that would keep him on the team through the 2013 season. The contract, reportedly worth $15.5 million, which includes a $4.25 million signing bonus
Signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive to the employee, e.g., if the annual salary is lower than he or she desires...
, makes Gould the NFL's highest-paid kicker.
On October 10, 2010 Gould kicked a career long 53-yard field goal against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. Goulds previous best was 52.5 yards against the Detroit Lions during the 2009 NFL Regular Season. Gould also moved up to second place on the career most accurate NFL kickers list, moving in front of Mike Vanderjagt, but still behind Nate Kaeding. On December 5, Gould increased his career long with a 54-yard field goal inside the domed Ford Field
Ford Field
Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...
against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
Personal life
Patrick Mannelly
Patrick Mannelly is an American football long snapper for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He was originally selected with the 36th pick of the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Duke University.-High school years:...
and who directly assists Gould on every field goal and extra point attempt as the long snapper
Long snapper
In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
.
Gould performed Take me out to the ball game
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. The song is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of...
during the Seventh inning stretch at a Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
' game on April 17, 2009, after throwing the first pitch. He later had an interview with WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
's commentators, Len Kasper
Len Kasper
Len Kasper is a play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs , teaming with Bob Brenly on WGN-TV, WCIU-TV, and Comcast SportsNet.- Personal life :Kasper grew up in Michigan...
and Bob Brenly
Bob Brenly
Robert Earl Brenly is an American former professional baseball player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. He played the majority of his career as a catcher with the San Francisco Giants and played half a season for the Toronto Blue Jays...
.
Despite the misleading spelling of his surname, "Gould" is pronounced "gōld", just like gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, prompting many announcers to use the phrase "Gould is gold" or "Good as Gould" when scoring a field goal.
His younger brother Chris Gould
Chris Gould (American football)
Chris Gould is an American placekicker for the Arena Football League. He currently plays for Chicago Rush, and is the brother to Chicago Bears placekicker Robbie Gould.-College career:...
plays for Chicago's Arena football
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
team Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
.
His cousin Brandon Thomas Gould is an offensive linemen for Bethune-Cookman University in his senior year.
External links
- Official Website
- Official Bears' Profile
- "Gould Getting a Leg Up", scout.com, January 22, 2007
- "Lock Haven native now living the American dream", The Altoona Mirror, January 28, 2007
- Official NFL Player Page