Gould wanted to re-sign with the 49ers; contract offer never came originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
STATELINE, Nev. — Eleven days before free agency opens and six weeks before the NFL Draft, veteran kicker Robbie Gould announced he will not be returning to the 49ers.
Gould told NBC Sports Bay Area this week that he wants to stay with the franchise, but the 49ers have shown no interest in retaining him for a seventh season.
“I would have loved to go back,” Gould said during the Century USA Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Resort.
“I told them I wanted to go back. We never got an offer from the team and we never had a conversation about coming back.
Gould, 40, ranks No. 1 among active players with 1,961 points scored during his 18-year career. He remains a free agent, waiting for an opportunity he is confident will come to fruition as training camps get ready to open around the NFL.
The 49ers left Gould with selection of Michigan kicker Jake Moody in the third round with overall selection No. 99. A month earlier, the 49ers added veteran kicker Zane Gonzalez in a trade from the Carolina Panthers in a trade 2025 end-of-round draft picks.
“The change was not my decision,” Gould said. “Obviously at the end of the season they had to make a decision and ultimately they wanted to go in a different direction.
“We posted the tweet that we were going to go in a different direction once we find out. It was a great race, and it was a lot of fun. I wish only the best to all my teammates.
Gould was among the first free agent signings for the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch regime in the spring of 2017.
He re-signed with the club in 2020 after a contentious contract negotiation after the club placed the franchise tag on him.
Gould ranks as the most accurate kicker in the franchise with an 88.3% completion rate on field goals, including 21 for 21 in the playoffs.
During his career, Gould made an NFL-record 29 playoff field goals with no misses.
Gould said he signed with the 49ers six years ago because of Shanahan. He is leaving the franchise with a high opinion of his former coach and the ownership of the York family, he said.
“Kyle is the best head coach in the NFL,” Gould said. “The guy is an offensive genius. He’s a great guy. I can’t say enough how awesome he is, how awesome he’s been to me. I think he’s amazing as a head coach.
“The opportunity to come and play for him was awesome. He fought for me every time my contract was done. I tried my best to play as hard as I could and give everything I could to the game. organization. My work speaks for that. Ultimately, they’re going to go in a different direction and my opportunity presents itself, and I’m thrilled about it.
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Gould said he’s spoken with a number of teams this offseason about the possibility of future employment, but he remains patient as he waits for the right situation and the right contract.
“I know training camp is coming up and I’m ready for the next opportunity,” Gould said. “And I’m sure these teams will give these youngsters a chance and find out who has a chance to compete. I think things are going to get a lot more serious. But, yes, I’m ready to go and I’m looking forward to the next season.
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