Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez battled OCD and trolls to convert Wild Card game-winner
Washington Commanders Wild Card round field-goal kicker Zane Gonzalez has struggled with OCD all his life.
Follow Us
Zane Gonzalez (Image via X/SS)
The Washington Commanders did something no one expected them to do after years of being in the doldrums. On Sunday, rookie QB Jayden Daniels driving the length of the field and then handing it over to replacement kicker Zane Gonzalez to net them their first playoff win in nearly two decades was poetic.
Once the fanfare settled on their playoff win, keen eyed fans focused on something that happened prior to the game-winning field goal. Zane Gonzalez was seen fixing his hair quite a few times before putting his helmet on, and also tried to fix his socks, taking off his kicking boots twice to do so.
NBC cameramen picked up the entire sequence and even led announcers to talk about it. At the end, it all came to fruition when he boinked their game-winning field goal. However, fans wondered what led him to look fidgety and uneasy until he lined up.
Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez is open about his struggle with OCD—which was on display in Sunday's game.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 13, 2025
Many joke about his ticks, but he harnesses them in his routine.
After focusing, Gonzalez kicked Washington to its first playoff win in 20 years.pic.twitter.com/rQvBAtwFhH
NBC commentators explained that it is normal for athletes to have pre-game jitters. Where some throw up due to the pressure of performing in a game, others are known to resort to a snack or music or even a book, which Philadelphia Eagles WR AJ Brown read while on the sideline.
Zane Gonzalez comes clean about his battle with OCD
Zane Gonzalez earned a full contract after a hip injury placed starting kicker Austin Seibert on the injured reserve list. Prior to that, he was just a reserve player, a role he donned throughout his entire NFL career. But during his spell with the Carolina Panthers, he revealed what he faces every game.
It affected me a lot more as a young kid. It’s just little thoughts, little funny habits that I do. I’ve done a lot of research on it. Specifically, sometimes I rinse my hands before kicks. And I was kind of curious about that. But that’s one of the most common things that people with OCD do. It instantly makes you just feel relieved.
Zane Gonzalez said
He revealed how he battles with OCD every day when speaking with The Charlotte Observer nearly four years ago. The 29-year-old clarified that it is not something that he loves having, but he has learned to deal with it.
The Washington Commanders are the sixth team in the Texas native’s NFL career. He has had his moments in the league but has not managed to pin down a long-term contract. Maybe this game winner can help him get that and help stabilize his growing family.
Related: Top 10 Richest NFL Players of all-time
Stay Updated!
Joseph Varghese
(2266 Articles Published)