SANTA CLARA — Robbie Gould is back — with the 49ers, not the Chicago Bears.
By placing the franchise tag on Gould on Tuesday, the 49ers made sure he won’t escape in free agency next month, such as for a potential reunion with the kicker-needy Bears.
Gould’s near-perfect accuracy the past two seasons with the 49ers made him a no-brainer to retain. The franchise tag will command him a $5 million salary this year, assuming he doesn’t reach a multi-year deal with the 49ers in the coming months.
