Most people probably won't recall the name Gary Zauner. He was a notable special team coordinator who spent time in Minnesota, Baltimore, and Arizona from 1994 to 2006. He also has a long and respected career as a kicking consultant that dates all the way back to 1980. He even did some work for the Chicago Bears in 1992. Oh, and he also discovered Robbie Gould.
The man has worked with a lot of good specialists in his career. It includes names like Kevin Butler, Gary Anderson, and Matt Stover. Safe to say the guy knows what top kickers are supposed to look like. What many people don't remember is that he had a huge hand in the Bears securing the best leg in franchise history back.
According to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, Zauner is an acquaintance and friend of Bears special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. He is also the man who helped the Ravens sign Gould out of Penn State in 2005. The man was so taken with the kid's talent that he advised Baltimore to part ways with Stover and keep Gould.
They refused.
The Bears brought Robbie Gould in for a workout
They placed a call to Zauner asked for any notes he had on the young man. The coach didn't mince words, merely stating Chicago might be making a wise decision by bringing the lanky kid in for a tryout.
Zauner runs a camp and a combine for free-agent specialists. He’s also known Tabor for years...
...Zauner has Bears connections, too. Mike Ditka hired him as a consultant in 1992. Zauner also worked with Kevin Butler and his son.
Better yet, Zauner vouched for a young Robbie Gould when Gould was an undrafted rookie with the Ravens in 2005...
“But all I remember is that when we cut him, that Bobby DePaul, who was the personnel guy with the Bears, he calls me. He goes, ‘Gary, what are you doing?’ I said, ‘Why? …. Well, all I can tell you is that he’s pretty good.’ He goes, ‘Well, we’re bringing him in for a workout.’”
As it turns out, Zauner has connections to the Bears this year once again. He helped out in coaching both Chris Blewitt and undrafted rookie snapper John Wirtel. So he's been in contact with Tabor during this kicking competition. How much is unknown. Still, knowing the guy who tipped the Bears off to Gould is involved once again?
That certainly gives one some encouragement that they might be headed in the right direction.
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