The real reason Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez kept playing with his hair before making game-winning playoff kick

The real reason Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez kept playing with his hair before making game-winning playoff kick

Washington Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez went viral on Sunday night after repeatedly playing with his hair before proving the hero in their dramatic playoff win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Gonzalez made the game-winning field goal as the Commanders snatched a 23-20 Wild Card victory over the Bucs right at the death – marking their first playoff win for almost two decades.

Yet before sending his decisive kick in off the upright, a number of fans were left baffled by how much the 29-year-old touched his hair before putting on his helmet and lining up for it.

In the viral clip, Gonzalez stops himself from putting his helmet on multiple times in order to run his fingers through his hair, leading to confusion on social media.

Yet unbeknown to most is that he suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, better known as OCD, which may well be the reason why.

Gonzalez, who is in his eighth NFL season after being picked by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, has been open about his OCD struggles since his college days. 

Washington's Zane Gonzalez repeatedly played with his hair before his game-winning kick

Washington’s Zane Gonzalez repeatedly played with his hair before his game-winning kick

Zane Gonzalez adjusting his hair feels kinda like golfers with a repeтιтive waggle pic.twitter.com/bIw7cOJATF

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) January 13, 2025 Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Dallas Cowboys make shock decision on head coach Mike McCarthy after contract talks article image

‘It makes you a perfectionist and more detail oriented,’ he said about how the disorder affects him in a 2017 interview with ESPN. ‘Off the field, it’s a pain in the ʙuтт.’

In the same article, Philip Pierce – a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in OCD – explained how the disorder makes people ‘continuously battle their own thought process.’

‘They get thoughts which trigger anxiety and then they try to get rid of the anxiety, usually by physical action,’ Pierce said. 

‘The classic example is that they get a thought that their hands are contaminated and they wash their hands, which offers some temporary relief.’

Regardless of the reason behind it, Gonzalez got his preparation for the kick just about right after sending it in off the post.

Washington’s 19-year wait for a postseason win, and all the troubles the team had faced since that 2006 victory, also on the road against the Buccaneers, came down to a matter of inches. 

And the kick hitting the upright on the way through the goal posts counts all the same and many NFL fans thought it was the perfect ending to the thrilling contest. 

Gonzalez suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which may well be the reason

Gonzalez suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which may well be the reason

‘Script writers loving the doink this year,’ one NFL fan said. 

‘Sometimes it better to be lucky than good! Wow!’ another person stated.

‘The Washington Post!!!’ a third user said, making a reference to the daily newspaper in the nation’s capital to make a pun. 

‘One yard back and it’s a miss, crazy game,’ another said about the jarring end. 

While one simply put: ‘Doinkin their way to the divisional!’ 

Related Posts

BREAKING NEWSTennessee тιтans sign wide receiver Tyler Lockett on eve of NFL Draft ahead of having No. 1 pick

BREAKING NEWSTennessee тιтans sign wide receiver Tyler Lockett on eve of NFL Draft ahead of having No. 1 pick

The Tennessee тιтans have reportedly signed wide receiver Tyler Lockett in free agency.  The 32-year-old announced the news himself on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday night. …

Shannon Sharpe allegedly threatened to ‘choke’ accuser in disturbing audio clip

Shannon Sharpe allegedly threatened to ‘choke’ accuser in disturbing audio clip

The lawyer for the woman suing Shannon Sharpe released a second audio clip in which you can hear what he says is the ex-NFL star threatening to…

Jets and Patriots may be battling for O-lineman Will Campbell in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

Jets and Patriots may be battling for O-lineman Will Campbell in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

The Patriots and Jets have battled over Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and (to a much lesser extent) Mike Vrabel. Now, soon-to-be first-round draft pick Will…

Kerby Joseph signs historic M Lions extension to become NFL’s highest-paid safety

Kerby Joseph signs historic $86M Lions extension to become NFL’s highest-paid safety

Kerby Joseph is now the highest-paid safety in NFL history.  The Lions star agreed to a four-year, $86 million contract extension, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday. …

Giants can’t let QB desperation be their NFL draft lodestar

Giants can’t let QB desperation be their NFL draft lodestar

When the season without reason ended, here was John Mara after deciding to keep Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll:  “That’s obviously the No. 1 issue for us…

Trump delivers shock verdict on Washington Commanders name change after NFL team dropped controversial Redskins

Trump delivers shock verdict on Washington Commanders name change after NFL team dropped controversial Redskins

President Donald Trump wouldn’t quite endorse the Washington Commanders changing the NFL team’s name back to the ‘Redskins’ – which was considered a slur by a number…