CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 03: Kicker Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring the game winning field goal against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Soldier Field on December 3, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 15-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers have officially placed the franchise tag on kicker Robbie Gould, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A long-term deal may still happen, though.

Barring something crazy, veteran kicker Robbie Gould will be playing for the San Francisco 49ers in 2019.

This, after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Niners were placing their franchise tag on Gould Tuesday morning.

There was already widespread speculation San Francisco would do this, especially after Gould was essentially automatic over his last two seasons with the team. The move all but blocks any possible reunion between Gould and the Chicago Bears, who parted ways with kicker Cody Parkey earlier this month, and the team with which Gould spent 11 seasons.

On the franchise tag, Gould would be scheduled to earn just over $5 million in 2019. This would make him the highest-paid kicker in the league, according to Over the Cap, in terms of average annual salary.

The next highest on that list is kicker Stephen Gostkowski of the New England Patriots at an average annual salary of $4.3 million.

According to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, the Niners used a non-exclusive franchise tag on Gould, which means other teams can negotiate with the kicker. But San Francisco can match. Otherwise, the compensation in return would be two first-round NFL Draft picks:

Hearing #49ers used the non exclusive tag on Robbie Gould. Means he can negotiate with other teams, but if he signs an offer sheet, the 49ers can match the offer, or if don’t they are entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation. You have been warned, #Bears. — Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) February 26, 2019

Gould’s franchise tag doesn’t automatically lock the 49ers into that one-year guaranteed deal, however. The Niners have until July 15 to continue negotiating with Gould on a new contract. After that point, however, no more negotiations can be made. And Gould would play the 2019 season on that fully guaranteed number.

Gould has made numerous overtures about returning to Chicago, where his family stayed during 2018.

But considering how effective Gould was over the course of last season for San Francisco, it makes more than perfect business sense for the Niners to retain him. Arguably the only reason they’d let him walk is if it was out of respect for Gould and a speculative request to walk in free agency.

And while there have been overtures of such, Gould hasn’t at least publicly stated he wants to sign with the Bears this offseason.