Washington Commanders player Zane Gonzalez opened up about his OCD after fans wondered why he was pulling his hair and tapping his helmet just before kicking the game-winning field goal on Sunday, Jan.
Zane Gonzalez went viral before his game-winning field goal. Now, the Commanders kicker is putting OCD in the spotlight.
Zane Gonzalez, the kicker who hit the game-winning field goal in the wild-card round, has an unorthodox game day routine – but it has little to do with style.
Washington Commanders place kicker Zane Gonzalez, right, kicks the game winning field goal from the hold of Tress Way during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)
The answer was that it was part of his OCD diagnosis, and he’s brought awareness to the disorder simply through that moment. He spoke about it in the week leading up to the Commanders’ next playoff game against the Detroit Lions, where we may see Gonzalez prepare in the same way before taking the field.
As Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez was walking onto the field at Raymond James Stadium to attempt a game-winning kick, his obsessive-compulsive disorder was on display to a national television audience.
Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzales' OCD has come to light following his late-game heroics on Sunday night.
In securing the first playoff win of Jayden Daniels’ young career, the Washington Commanders played a gutsy NFC Wild Card game on Sunday. Against a solid Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, the Commanders were convincingly better. They more than earned a place in the divisional round against the top-seeded Detroit Lions next Saturday.
Commanders radio announcing duo Bram Weinstein and London Fletcher had an electric call of Zane Gonzalez's game-winning field goal.
Zane Gonzalez made the biggest kick of his career on Sunday night, doinking in the boot that gave Washington its first playoff victory since the 2005 season, but not before he went through his routine.
Despite his unusual pre-kick routine—later revealed to be influenced by his battle with OCD—Gonzalez was flawless on the night, converting all three field goal attempts, including a long of 52 yards. On the season, he has been remarkably consistent, going 23-for-25.
Lizzy Martinez, the wife of Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez, sent love to the Washington hero after his game-winning field goal.