(670 The Score) Veteran kicker Robbie Gould, the Bears' all-time leading scorer and a clutch performer over 18 NFL seasons, announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday morning.
Gould revealed his retirement in an article on The Players' Tribune. He had been a free agent this season after his contract with the 49ers expired in March.
“All good things must come to an end," Gould wrote. "The meaning of that saying is pretty simple, really. Great things in life cannot last forever. Everything is temporary."
Gould, 41, broke into the NFL with the Bears in 2005 after a successful tryout with the team. He connected on 447 out of 517 field-goal attempts over 11 seasons in Chicago while compiling a franchise-record 1,207 points.
Gould's tenure with the Bears was highlighted by clutch kicks, including a 49-yard game-winning field goal in a 27-24 overtime victory against the Seahawks at Soldier Field in the NFC divisional round in January 2007.
Gould was 29-of-29 on field-goal attempts over 16 career postseason games.
After being released by the Bears prior to the 2016 season, Gould played 10 games with the Giants that year and then signed with the 49ers, where he spent six more seasons.
Gould is currently ninth all-time in NFL history in field-goal percentage with a 86.5% mark over his career.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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