ASHBURN, Va. – By the time Zane Gonzalez “doinked” the Washington Commanders into the NFC divisional round Sunday night, the journeyman kicker was already the talk of the town on social media.
As NBC’s cameras trained on him as the climax of a 23-20 Washington victory neared, footage of him adjusting his socks and running his hands through his hair ranged from irony to embarrassment to cruelty. This led to a variety of posts. But the truth is that Gonzalez has suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) since childhood. This is just how my OCD manifested itself in my pre-kick routine.
“It’s kind of a routine, and we go through it every time,” Gonzalez said two days before the Commanders’ NFC Divisional Round game against the Detroit Lions. “For me, it’s more of the same thing.
“It just happens to be on a bigger stage, so it’s just getting more attention, and it’s going to get more attention going forward. But for me, nothing changes. It all remains the same. Dew.”
Since Sunday, Gonzalez said she has received a “tremendous amount of support” from the community. He said he had also received messages from many people who shared their stories about the condition, which can cause people to engage in repetitive behaviors or rituals in an attempt to control their thoughts. It seems like it will never go away.
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“I want more people to understand that it’s difficult to explain the thinking that goes on with OCD,” he said. “So every time a situation like that happens, it’s like you’re really thinking that whatever it is, the worst possible situation is going to happen. It’s the most surreal, crazy, unimaginable thing. It may be true, and people will say, “You’re crazy to think that.” Well, I know it’s crazy to think that. But that tick is always kneading you. It never ends. It’s always there. It’s just something you get used to, and it’s something you can gradually get used to. ”
Gonzalez has been open about his experience with OCD for several years, saying it’s something he’s learned to deal with over the years.
“There are all kinds of people who go through life dealing with hardships on a daily basis, and many of them are in the homes that people don’t see,” the 29-year-old said.
For example, Gonzalez said she spent Wednesday night resetting her alarm clock about 100 times to make sure it went off in the morning.
“Sure, the word ‘OK’ can irritate my wife a little bit, but that’s just how it goes sometimes,” Gonzalez said.
As a child, Gonzalez spent three hours writing the same words over and over, ignoring major challenges, often misspelling words or writing the wrong letters. His father had to take him for walks and practice soccer outside.
“I’ve definitely gotten better since I was younger, but I feel like I’m able to handle it much better now that I’m an adult,” he said.
Gonzalez’s wife, Lizzie, made two social media posts highlighting her husband’s OCD and defending him from those who were mean to him about it. She watches him during the match, even when he’s playing elsewhere, and doesn’t get upset by the way he runs his hands through her hair. That’s what he does on the practice field.
“It’s just funny for us to see it happen on such a big stage and how it all played out,” Gonzalez said.
Even if Lizzie might be a little more aggressive with online trolls.
“For me, I’ve missed some big kicks in my career, I’ve made some big kicks, so I feel like the keel is even,” said Gonzalez, who took the kick against Arizona Sate. . Let’s keep going and keep moving.” College. “I think she’s been able to cope with it pretty well for the most part.”
Gonzalez is certainly open to jokes, and his teammates have helped him not have to feel self-conscious about the ritual. During this week’s special teams meeting, long snapper Tyler Ott said the specialist group of Ott, Gonzalez and field goal holder punter Torres Way received the award for their game-winning performance in Tampa Bay. spoke.
“I think everyone in the locker room has something that takes them back to that moment,” Ott said. “Obviously, he just got a little more attention with it.”
Ott said she didn’t know Gonzalez suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder, but that in recent months she had seen his hands running through his hair and adjusting his socks.
“He’s not sensitive about it,” Ott said.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said he had never spoken to Gonzalez about his condition, but that Gonzalez had been open about it since contributing to Washington’s rise. I’m happy,” he said.
“If he has the chance to help another player, I think it takes a lot of courage and it says a lot about who he is, not just as a ballplayer, but as a person. ” Quinn said. ”
Gonzalez was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 draft by the Cleveland Browns, and was released the following season to sign with the Arizona Cardinals. He spent time with the Lions, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, but prior to this season, he had not played in an NFL game since 2021.
Gonzalez has been on the manager’s active roster since Dec. 2, replacing Austin Seibert, who was the team’s primary kicker until he was sidelined with hip and groin injuries. Cade York started the season as the team’s kicker, but was sent off after Week 1. Greg Joseph also kicked in Week 15 due to injuries to Seibert and Gonzalez.
“He’s been a great player. We’ve had a lot of turnovers at that position,” special teams coordinator Larry Izzo said Thursday. “But he definitely stabilized his position, came in and did his job, so we’re really happy with him.
“He has his process and everybody’s unique in that way. But yeah, try not to make too much of a fuss about it. Obviously, he goes out there and makes kicks. “And that’s all that matters.”
There are four kickers this year, but the quality of Way and Ott (the team cut long snapper Cameron Cheeseman last season) helps keep the transition smooth. Ott said it’s been a “weird year” for the specialists between injuries and roster moves, but like the rest of the locker room, they’ve been going out to dinner and drinks with each other; He said that they have become a close-knit unit by holding meetings. Eating together on the way.
“Thankfully, Torres and I have a consistent duo, so it makes it easier operationally…We just did the best we could for our kicker,” Ott said.
Washington’s Gonzalez went 8-for-10 (including playoffs), making all three of the Commanders’ postseason wins and was perfect on extra point attempts (21-of-21). Early in the game against the Buccaneers, he made his longest field goal of the season, a 52-yard field goal.
“It was really great,” Gonzalez said of his time at the helm. “Honestly, I’m incredibly grateful to the entire organization. Everyone here is really, really great people. They’re doing something special, and I’m excited to be a part of it. I am very happy to be able to play a small role in this.”