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Commanders Kicker’s NFL Career Makes Waves After Game-Winner

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Jan 13, 2025 12:21 AM ET

The Washington Commanders are moving on in the NFL playoffs after a 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round.

The Commanders won the game on a doink field goal by Zane Gonzalez as time expired, and the Washington sideline went into pure celebration mode.

It was a huge night for Gonzalez, who connected on a 52-yarder in the second quarter and a 22-yarder in the third quarter before knocking through the game-winner.

Furthermore, Gonzalez went just 5-of-7 on field goals and a perfect 19-of-19 on extra points for the Commanders in the regular season after joining the team in November.

After the game, the NFL journey of Gonzalez made waves on the internet as the NFL on CBS account posted a graphic with all of his stops in his short career.

Gonzalez was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft. In his rookie year, he went 15-of-20 on field goals including a long of 54 yards.

He went just 2-of-5 in 2018 before being waived by the Browns only to join the Arizona Cardinals roster and go 7-of-9 on field goals.

Shoutout Zane Gonzalez

• waived by CLE in 2018
• released by ARZ in 2021
• DET practice squad in 2021
• traded from CAR to SF in 2023
• signed to WAS practice squad
• replaced injured starting kicker Austin Siebert midseason
• made GW FG for Commanders playoff win pic.twitter.com/pKZxRoPJEy
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 13, 2025

He spent 2019 with the Cardinals and recorded career-highs, going 31-of-35 with 34-of-35 on extra points.

After that, he went all around the league, including stints with the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, and then finally the Commanders in 2024. He was traded from the Panthers to the 49ers in March 2023 and then was released in September of the same year after being placed on Injured Reserve.

In his entire career entering Sunday, Gonzalez had made 96 of 120 field goals with a long of 57 yards.

After Austin Siebert suffered a season-ending injury , the job firmly belonged to Gonzalez. The Commanders also had Cade York and Greg Joseph make kicks during the 2024 season, so it has been a whirlwind at the position this season.

Nonetheless, after an unreal NFL journey, Gonzalez is a hero in Washington after giving the Commanders their first playoff win since 2005.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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