Kickers could have a hand in final outcome
MIAMI – Robbie Gould wasn’t sure he ever would be in this position again, this close to a Super Bowl title.
Heck, he didn’t even know a few months ago if he’d still be with the 49ers.
“Yeah, it’s been,” Gould said with a pause. “It’s been interesting.”
The veteran kicker was coming off another outstanding season a year ago when the 49ers placed the franchise tag on him last February. Frustrated with stagnant contract talks, Gould requested a trade. He wanted out — to be closer to his wife and three children in Chicago, where he played his first 11 NFL seasons with the Bears.
But in mid-July, Gould ended his holdout. He and the 49ers agreed on a four-year, $19 million contract extension. Now he has a chance to cap a hectic 12 months with an elusive — and, at one time, seemingly unlikely — championship.
“It’s been a year where I’ve been able to learn more and grow as a player and a person,” Gould said. “The ultimate goal that I’ve always had was to win a Super Bowl and we have that opportunity this weekend.”
Not only that, Gould could end up playing a key role in whether the 49ers get the franchise’s sixth title. Same for Harrison Butker, who could help deliver the Chiefs their first Super Bowl win since 1970.
In a game for which the betting line has been just 1 or 11⁄2 points in the Chiefs’ favor since the odds came out almost two weeks ago, the big legs on either sideline could make the difference.
“That’s part of the position,” Butker said. “I don’t think anybody would want to be playing this position if it didn’t come down to big moments. Those pressure moments are really where you can shine and show off all that hard work you’ve been putting in.”
Four times in Super Bowl history, a kicker has decided in the closing moments which team was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in a shower of confetti — and which team was back in the locker room wondering what could have been.
Jim O’Brien’s 32-yard field goal with five seconds remaining led the Colts to a 16-13 win over the Cowboys in 1971 in Miami. Adam Vinatieri booted the Patriots to two titles: His 48-yarder as time expired beat the Rams in 2002, and his 41-yarder defeated the Panthers in 2004.
Then, of course, there is the Bills’ Scott Norwood, whose 47-yard attempt sailed wide right in 1991 and sent the Giants home with a championship.
“We approach every kick like it’s the game-winning kick,” Gould said, “no matter whether it’s Week 1 or the Super Bowl, whether it’s the first quarter or the fourth quarter.”
Gould, 37, has had lots of big kicks fly off his right foot over the years. But this is only the second time they will come on the NFL’s biggest stage.
He was in his second season with the Bears when they lost 29-17 to Peyton Manning and the Colts in Miami in 2007. Gould, who made his only field-goal try in that game, figured there would be plenty more opportunities. Instead, 13 years and two teams — he played for the Giants in 2016 — later, Gould is finally back.
“I was 23 and I didn’t know any better, you know what I mean?” he said. “A big part of it this time around is just really enjoying it and soaking it up.”
While he has no plans to stop playing any time soon, Gould knows a lot needs to happen even to have this opportunity.
And plenty has happened since his last Super Bowl appearance, including getting married and he and his wife having three children.
“I’m excited to share the moments with those guys this time around,” he said. “The game has grown tremendously in 13 years. When it does come down to the actual game, though, it is just a football game, right?”