Former Penn State kicker Robbie Gould retiring from NFL

Longtime NFL and former Penn State kicker Robbie Gould, originally from Jersey Shore, Clinton County, Pa., announced today the he is retiring from football.

Gould, who turned 41 yesterday, said he wants to spend more time with his family and do charity work.

“All good things must come to an end,” Gould wrote. “Great things in life cannot last forever. Everything is temporary.”

Gould is graduate of Central Mountain High School in Mill Hall and Penn State University, where he played football for four years.

He spent 11 seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens, the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants and most recently with the San Francisco 49ers.

On Instagram, Gould wrote – “To have the kind of playing-career experience that I had in the NFL was nothing short of amazing, and my level of gratitude for the journey — the ups, the downs, the in between — is immeasurable. In short, my NFL story is hard to believe, and it’s filled with a plethora of ‘pinch-me’ moments.

“Whether you were an owner, a general manager, a coach, a teammate, a member of the support staff, a massage therapist, a fan, or the family of my own, each and every one of you has impacted me in some way throughout my career. From the bottom of my heart, I am forever grateful and appreciative for every bit of support you have given me. You were my motivation to go the extra mile to win each and every week. And we can all agree that the week is always a little better after any kind of win in life, right?

“And now? Lucky me. My favorite team has been waiting for me at home to join them full-time — no contract needed. I’m excited to be more present with my family and to focus all of my attention on what matters to me outside of football. For the longest time, my career has naturally filled my schedule, and my wife has taken the reins at home.

“My oldest is 10 years old, and I’ve been away from him for large chunks of nine years. My younger two boys are eight and five. For most of their lives, Dad hasn’t been fully present. So, without interruption, I’m ready for this next stage of life.”

Gould said he is looking forward to “new endeavors” that may come his way and especially wants to do charity work that he said “is an integral part of my core values, and I’m looking forward to pursuing more opportunities to give back. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also thinking about all of the golf courses I’ve yet to visit.

“And in my book, a Little League position titled ‘Coach Rob’ has a pretty nice ring to it. Thanks for the ride @playerstribune.”

It was announced in March of this year that the 49ers were not going to bring him back for a seventh season.

San Francisco 49ers place kicker Robbie Gould (9) during an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. Gould announced on Dec. 7, 2023, that he is retiring from the NFL. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)AP