December 19, 2022 – Indoor Football League (IFL) – Bay Area Panthers News Release
The Panthers feel they’ve locked in the difference maker of their special teams with the signing of veteran kicker Kevin Goessling.
“It’s a new franchise with a lot of exciting things going on,” said Goessling. “I played for Coach (Dixie) Wooten. I worked out for Coach Arbet and have tremendous respect for him. And his relationship with the community is going to ensure this team becomes successful. I really want to play for someone who has a chance to win the championship. ”
Goessling came out of retirement in 2021 when Jimmy Camacho, one of Goessling’s kicking students, left the Tucson Sugarskulls for a tryout with the CFL. Goessling played two games for Tucson and when Camacho returned, signed with Duke City for the rest of the season. He finished the last half of the ’22 season with the Gladiators before deciding to resume his career with the Panthers.
“Kevin has a powerful leg,” said General Manager and Head Coach Darren Arbet. “He can do all the kicks. The great thing about him is that you’re in field goal range anywhere on the field with him.”
After a decorated career at Fresno State, Goessling suffered a torn him labrum in February before the 2012 NFL Draft. At the time, he did not know the severity of the injury. Goessling spent minicamp with the Bears and when his injury was thoroughly diagnosed, underwent hip surgery
Goessling took time to heal which led to a stint with the Raiders in 2014, where Sebastian Janikowski had a firm grip on the kicker position.
Next was the move to the indoor game-Goessling getting workouts with the Arizona Rattlers and the San Jose Sabercats, coached by Darren Arbet. He eventually played for the Portland Thunder in 2015 and the LA KISS in 2016 before hanging up his kicking shoe.
The transition to the “real world” led him to a fundraising job with the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame and then commercial real estate. Goessling is making his mark in business but still has some business to take care of on the field.
The thunderous leg strength that can make an impact for a team in the outdoor game remains. He credits his work teaching kids the craft as a major factor in being able to keep playing at a high level.
“If you look at golfers and what they work on, it’s the same things they’re doing-their initial take back of the club away from the ball; their initial downswing into the ball,” said Goessling. “Some of the small things are the same small things I work on with my guys. It’s a lot of the small things that lead to consistent kicking in the indoor game. The ball flies in arena ball if you hit it right. But if you miss hit it, the ball is not very forgiving.”
In moving to the indoor game, Goessling leaned on his fundamentals to acquire a different skill set in order to make a team. Much more was required than simply having the strongest leg.
“At tryouts, if you couldn’t hit the middle dribble or hit the pop overs, you weren’t going to win the job. There were a lot of kickers out there so you had to learn and develop it and learn it on the fly…Leg strength gets you in the door but what wins you a job and wins your team games is the ability to do the variety of kicks.”
The Panthers are leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of a championship and trust they have a critical piece of the puzzle to get them over the top.
“You’ve got to get your guaranteed points,” said Goessling. “You’ve got to take away opportunities and you’ve got to create opportunities from the other teams. ”
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