Former Pro Bowl kicker announces retirement

One of the most accurate kickers in NFL history is retiring from football.

Former San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould announced his retirement on Thursday. The 41-year-old reflected on his career and said he is looking forward to being able to spend more time with his family.

“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,” Gould wrote on Instagram. “In short, my NFL story is hard to believe, and it’s filled with a plethora of ‘pinch-me’ moments.

“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.”