Robbie Gould could be kicking his way to National Football history this weekend but not long ago the Chicago Bears hero was working in the construction industry as his career seemed stalled.
People
LAKE FOREST, Ill.
Robbie Gould could be kicking his way to National Football history this weekend but not long ago the Chicago Bears hero was working in the construction industry as his career seemed stalled.
Last weekend however, he booted the tying and winning field goals while key receptions came from a guy who had a job at an electronics store while he played in the Arena Football League.
Robbie Gould and Rashied Davis certainly took indirect routes to the NFL.
Davis’ catches and Gould’s goal helped the Bears beat the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in overtime to advance to the NFC championship game this weekend.
Gould kicked the winning 49-yard field goal after tying it with a 41-yard boot with just under six minutes left in regulation. Davis caught four passes for 84 yards.
Both were still smiling Monday.
“It’s kind of a dream come true for me,” said Gould who was undrafted out of Penn State and waived by two teams before making the Pro Bowl this season.
After Seattle punted on the first possession of overtime, Rex Grossman and Davis connected for 30 yards to put the ball on the Seahawks 36-yard line. Four plays later, Gould kicked the winning field goal. And then, he ran around the field.
“I wasn’t thinking,” he said. “I was just going nuts.”
Bears Kicker
Afterward, he took his parents to dinner. His phone and inbox were jammed with messages. But for a twist of fate he could still be at his construction job.
The fifth all-time scorer at Penn State, Gould was waived by New England in late August 2005 and by Baltimore a month later. He was working construction for a family friend back home in Lock Haven, Pa., when the call came from the Bears that October.
“I really didn’t think it was the Bears organization calling,” he said. “I thought it was just a friend goofing around, and the next thing I know, it was, ‘Get me on the fastest plane there.’”
Gould went on to convert 21-of-27 field goals for the Bears last season. He started this season by making a club-record 24 before New England blocked a 45-yard attempt Nov. 26, and made 32-of-36 overall.
“It’s awesome just to have the opportunity I’ve been granted through the Bears organization,” he said. “Obviously, my teammates I can’t thank them enough for putting me in a position to succeed and have fun this year. I think everyone is having a blast., Gould said. “It maybe gives them a little bit more incentive that if they work hard, they keep playing and keep on believing that they can possibly make it here. But it’s not easy to get here, you have to have a little bit of luck.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed