The San Francisco 49ers worked out five kickers this week as they searched for a temporary replacement for Eddy Piñeiro ahead of their Week 12 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the 49ers are signing veteran kicker Matt Gay, who was among the group of tryouts. Gay visited the team on Wednesday before agreeing to a deal.
The 49ers are signing kicker Matt Gay, his agents @davidcanter and @nessmugrabi of @aurasportsgroup tell The Insiders.
San Francisco worked out a bunch of kickers over the past two days and decided to go with Gay, who was just cut by Washington on Monday. pic.twitter.com/R8aYFFy88r
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 19, 2025
Piñeiro suffered a Grade 1 right hamstring strain during Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals and is considered week-to-week.
Initially drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Gay has spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Commanders. Over seven NFL seasons, he has converted 178 of 212 field-goal attempts (84.0%) and 228 of 236 extra-point attempts (96.6%).
Gay, 31, struggled this season with Washington, missing six of 19 field-goal tries in 10 games before being released on Monday. The Commanders replaced him with former 49ers kicker Jake Moody.
A Pro Bowl selection in 2021, Gay helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI and made NFL history in 2023 by becoming the first kicker to hit four field goals of 50-plus yards in a single game.