Robbie Gould is the all-time scoring leader in Chicago Bears history. He’s been behind some of the most clutch moments in team history. He was the last man standing from the team that went to the Super Bowl in 2006. That’s why it was difficult for many fans to see him go last year after so many excellent seasons of service. Unfortunately that’s how the business works sometimes. It sucks but it is what it is.
People like to say there was no reason for the Bears to cut Gould. In fact there were plenty of reasons. Robbie had missed four games in 2014 with injury. Then in 2015 he missed six field goals and extra point, a number of them costing the team chances to win. Finally after a difficult 2016 preseason, the team just couldn’t take it anymore.
The 34-year old was granted his release after 11 years. It was an emotional moment for a man who’d been a team leader for so long. In fact he had a tearful meeting with Bears matriarch Virginia McCaskey prior to his leaving.
Robbie Gould apologized for Bears’ Super Bowl failure
Talking to the Bears media in advance of his new team, the 49ers’ visit to Chicago he stated he had only one regret in his career. That was failing to win a Super Bowl for the city. He expressed as much during his final meeting with McCaskey.
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“I wish those guys nothing but the best – (coach) John Fox, (general manager) Ryan Pace, (special teams coordinator) Jeff Rodgers,” he said. “I wish for my teammates that they would win more football games. I wish the organization would win a Super Bowl. Those were goals I had when I was there, and I don’t wish any bad or ill will on anyone there.
“I have no animosity. If you look back on the 11 years I spent there, the only thing I didn’t accomplish as a Chicago Bear was winning a Super Bowl — and I told Mrs. (Virginia) McCaskey I was sorry for that, and I deeply mean that.”
It’s such a shame because Gould was in no way responsible for the Bears coming up short that year. He was perfect throughout the 2006 playoffs, going 6-of-6 on field goals including a brilliant 49-yard bomb in overtime to win the divisional round game against Seattle. In fact Gould was absolute money in the postseason. For his career he’s 8-for-8 on field goals and 20-for-20 on extra points.
He’s missed to this day. One can only hope he goes out on his terms, whether that be this year or in the near future. Few deserve such an honor more.
