Zane Gonzalez Bio
Zane Holden Fortunato Gonzalez is an American professional football placekicker currently in the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 202 pounds, he has built a reputation as one of the most accurate kickers in the league. Gonzalez currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons and previously appeared for the Miami Dolphins.
Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft after a record-setting college career, Gonzalez has since suited up for eight NFL franchises. A 2016 unanimous All-American and Lou Groza Award winner, he remains a reliable option on field goals and extra points.
Early Life and Background
Zane Holden Fortunato Gonzalez was born on May 7, 1995, in Deer Park, Texas, where he grew up and attended Deer Park High School. He is of Mexican descent, and his father, Joseph Gonzalez, played a memorable role in shaping his son’s name. Joseph picked the name Zane after watching the movie Maverick, in which James Garner’s character carries that name.
Gonzalez has spoken openly about living with obsessive-compulsive disorder, an experience he has used to encourage conversations around mental health. His Texas upbringing and family support laid the foundation for his early development as a kicker, and his accuracy from long range quickly made him a standout at the high school level.
Path to American Football
Gonzalez signed with Arizona State University on March 28, 2013, joining the Sun Devils as a true freshman. He played every game that season, converting 25 of 30 field goal attempts and all 63 extra point tries, while also stringing together an ASU freshman record of 18 consecutive field goals made. His production earned him a First Team All-Pac-12 Conference selection and recognition as one of the top freshman kickers in college football.
Across four seasons with the Sun Devils, Gonzalez steadily built his resume, earning Second Team All-Pac-12 honors in 2014 and another First Team selection in 2016. He set the Pac-12 career points record, became the school’s all-time scoring leader, and tied the NCAA record for 50-plus-yard field goals in a single game. By the end of his senior year, he had broken the NCAA Division I record for career field goals made, finishing as the all-time leader at the time.
Zane Gonzalez Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
During his freshman year in 2013, Gonzalez appeared in every game and immediately gave Arizona State a reliable leg, breaking the school’s points-by-a-kicker record with 138 points. He added a Second Team All-Pac-12 nod as a sophomore in 2014 and matched a then-career-high with four field goals against Stanford, including a game-winning overtime kick against Utah.
As a junior in 2015, Gonzalez matched the Pac-12 record by hitting six field goals against California and broke the school’s career scoring record. He closed his senior year in 2016 by converting 23 of 25 field goal attempts, earning the Lou Groza Award and unanimous All-American honors, cementing his status as one of the top kicking prospects heading into the 2017 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns Era (2017–2018)
The Cleveland Browns selected Gonzalez in the seventh round, 224th overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft and signed him to a four-year, $2.48 million contract. He won the kicking competition during training camp and opened his rookie season with a 24-yard field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, he hit a career-long 54-yard field goal and finished the year 15 of 20 on field goals.
Gonzalez’s 2018 season ended abruptly after a blocked overtime attempt against the Steelers and missed kicks against the New Orleans Saints, leading Cleveland to waive him on September 17, 2018.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2018–2020)
On November 20, 2018, the Arizona Cardinals signed Gonzalez to their practice squad and promoted him two days later after an injury to Phil Dawson. He quickly delivered a 44-yard go-ahead field goal against the Green Bay Packers. In 2019, Gonzalez enjoyed his most productive season as a pro, converting 31 of 35 field goal attempts and 34 of 35 extra point attempts. He re-signed with the Cardinals in 2020 but finished the year on injured reserve and was released on March 5, 2021.
Detroit Lions Era (2021)
Gonzalez signed with the Detroit Lions on August 10, 2021, but was waived late in the preseason and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. His time in Detroit was short, as the Carolina Panthers signed him off the Lions practice squad on September 14, 2021.
Carolina Panthers Era (2021–2022)
Gonzalez thrived in Carolina, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in 2021 after going a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals against the Atlanta Falcons and the Arizona Cardinals. A quad injury suffered in warm-ups in Week 15 ended his 2021 campaign, and a similar injury in the 2022 preseason kept him out for the entire year.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2023)
The Panthers traded Gonzalez to the San Francisco 49ers on March 24, 2023, in exchange for a conditional swap of late-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was placed on injured reserve on August 29, 2023, and released with an injury settlement on September 5, 2023.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–2025)
Gonzalez joined the Washington Commanders’ practice squad on November 8, 2024, and was elevated three times before signing to the active roster. In six regular season games, he made 5 of 7 field goals and all 19 extra point attempts. In his first playoff appearance on January 12, 2025, Gonzalez drilled a dramatic game-winning 37-yard field goal off the upright against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, delivering Washington’s first playoff win since 2005. He signed a one-year extension on March 6, 2025, but was released after the Commanders signed Matt Gay.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2025)
On November 5, 2025, Gonzalez signed with the Atlanta Falcons and quickly became a steady contributor. He earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in both Week 12 and Week 18 against the New Orleans Saints, finishing the 2025 season 19 of 22 on field goals and 17 of 18 on extra points.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gonzalez is known for his calm approach under pressure, repeatable mechanics, and accuracy from long range, including a career long of 57 yards. He has consistently shown the ability to handle cold-weather and indoor kicking conditions, and his veteran experience has helped stabilize special teams units across multiple franchises.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his NCAA record-breaking 89th career field goal in 2016, his walk-off 37-yard field goal for Washington in the 2025 NFC Wild Card round, and his multiple NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards with Carolina, Washington, and Atlanta.
Zane Gonzalez Career Wins
Gonzalez has built a journeyman resume across eight NFL teams while producing consistent field goal and extra point numbers. Through the 2025 season, he has converted 115 of 142 career field goal attempts for an 81.0 percent success rate, with a long of 57 yards.
NFL Highlights
Gonzalez has played in 115 or more made field goals across his career and earned three NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in 2021, 2024, and 2025. His most recent win came in Week 18 of 2025, when he went 4-for-4 against the New Orleans Saints to lead Atlanta to a 19–17 victory.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his NFL stops, Gonzalez earned Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors four times during his senior season at Arizona State, becoming only the second player ever to reach that mark.
Zane Gonzalez Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gonzalez is of Mexican descent and is the son of Joseph Gonzalez, who inspired his first name after watching the 1994 film Maverick. His family has been a steady presence throughout his career transitions between multiple NFL teams.
Personal Life
Gonzalez married Lizzy Mireya Martinez in 2024, and the couple welcomed their first child on December 18, 2024. He has also been open about his ongoing management of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
2025 Season Performance
Gonzalez split the 2025 season between the Washington Commanders and the Atlanta Falcons, finishing the year 19 of 22 on field goals and 17 of 18 on extra points in Atlanta. His midseason signing immediately boosted the Falcons’ special teams, as he delivered two NFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards in late-season wins over the New Orleans Saints.
His veteran reliability gave Atlanta a confident option in close games, including a perfect 4-for-4 showing in the Week 18 finale that helped secure a 19–17 victory and playoff positioning.
