![Mental Health Disorder Of Falcons Kicker Zane Gonzalez Came To Light When People Noticed What He Did Before Game-Winning Field-Goal vs. Rams On MNF [VIDEO]](/storage/article_images/20251230-mental-health-disorder.webp)
Total Pro Sports
The Atlanta Falcons looked to kicker Zane Gonzalez after blowing a three-score lead against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday. He stepped up; he got the job done.
Gonzalez split the uprights with a 51-yard field goal with 21 seconds left on the clock to seal a 27-24 upset on the night. His actions leading up to the kick have gone viral.
The 30-year-old has been clutch all year. He sent Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles into a meltdown with a game-winner earlier this month, having previously booted them from the playoffs. He was with the Washington Commanders back then.
Gonzalez was seen touching his hair before putting on his helmet while running up to take the kick on Monday, now a familiar sight. It’s been brought to light that he does this because he has been dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
The disorder never gets in the way of his kicking. However, he did have an attempt blocked and ran in for a touchdown by Jared Verse in the third quarter.
Check him out in the video below:
Inspiring: Falcons kicker Zane Gonzalez suffers from the condition called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
He touches his hair multiple times before every kick, even in practice.
Despite having OCD, Gonzalez has persevered and nailed the game-winning field goal.
An inspiration. pic.twitter.com/W9i5rtFOSj
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 30, 2025
While it’s not something he keeps relevant, Gonzalez has been open about his OCD, telling the Charlotte Observer he struggled with it as a child.
“It affected me a lot more as a young kid. … It’s just little thoughts, little funny habits that I do,” he said back in 2021.“I’ve done a lot of research on it.”
He explained further, telling the outlet, “Specifically, sometimes I rinse my hands before kicks.”
“And I was kind of curious about that,” he added. But that’s one of the most common things that people with OCD do. It instantly makes you just feel relieved. I don’t know why, if it’s just a placebo effect. It’s not something I love having. But it just is what it is, and I’ve learned to deal with it.”
The Falcons blew a 21-0 halftime lead, and it appeared that an upset might be too big an ask. In the end, they managed to squeeze in a win, with Gonzalez proving key yet again.
