The San Francisco 49ers will have to find themselves a new kicker for 2023.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, veteran kicker Robbie Gould stated that he plans to enter free agency and will play elsewhere next season.
It’s unclear if this was a mutual decision to part ways or if one side simply initiated the split. Either way, Gould is suddenly the best kicker available in free agency, and the 49ers will need to find a suitable replacement. And in today’s day where consistent kickers are few and far between, that’s easier said than done.
Gould joined the 49ers as a free agent in 2017 following a one-year stint with the New York Giants. Before that, Gould spent each of his first 11 seasons (2005 to 2015) with the Chicago Bears, helping them to a Super Bowl 41 appearance in his sophomore year.
Gould had his fair share of memorable performances with the 49ers. In the 2021 NFC Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers, Could booted a 45-yard field goal in the snowy conditions of Lambeau Field as time expired to send the club to the NFC Championship Game.
The 40-year-old Gould has converted on 86.5 percent of his career field goal attempts. He made 84.4 percent of his attempts for the 49ers last season, and 87 percent the year before that. Gould is 36-of-51 for his career on kicks from 50-plus yards out.
