After a tumultuous 2024 season and an offseason that led to doubt over whether or not he'd be on the team in 2025, Saturday brought a long-awaited hero moment for San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody.
After connecting on 21 of 25 attempts as a rookie in 2023, Moody, who joined the team as a third-round draft pick out of the University of Michigan, saw his numbers fall significantly in 2024 as he missed 10 field goals along with one point-after attempt. The 49ers signed veteran Greg Joseph in the offseason to compete with Moody, only to recently cut him in order to clear up a roster spot after injuries to other players. But Joseph's release didn't mean Moody's role was guaranteed in the long term, as the 49ers still seemed open to going in a different direction if Moody stumbled.
The spotlight on Moody turned out to be particularly bright during Saturday's 22-19 preseason win over the Raiders, a game that saw nine total field goals between the two teams. Moody looked a little shaky in the early going, having missed one field goal while not looking solid on all of his made kicks. But by the time the game was over, Moody had connected on five of six field goals, including a career-long game-winner from 59 yards to give the 49ers the victory as time expired.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan offered his vote of approval after the game, making it clear Moody's performance was a step in the right direction.
"I think that was a hell of a day for him," Shanahan told reporters in his postgame press conference. "I thought he kicked his ass off and gives us a lot of confidence."
After missing his second field goal attempt of the game (from 53 yards), Moody connected on his next three field goals, including a 44-yard kick to tie the game at 19 with 37 seconds to play. Then came an improbable opportunity for him to attempt a game-winner. Following an interception from safety Jaylen Mahoney that gave the 49ers possession at the Raiders' 41-yard line with 13 seconds to play, Moody was given the chance to hit a 59-yard game-winner with four seconds on the clock after quarterback Carter Bradley threw two incomplete passes. Moody booted the ball through the uprights with room to spare and was greeted with a jubilant celebration from the rest of the team.
The whole @49ers team was going crazy for Jake Moody's game-winning FG 🎉 pic.twitter.com/EHSTl0nnMS
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2025
"It was a great operation, great snap, great hold," Moody told reporters Saturday. "I got to see the ball for a long time. Usually when you get to see the ball for a while, that's a good thing. I hit it really well; the guy rushing the edge tripped me, so I fell on the back and didn't even get to see it. It was pretty cool to have everybody pick me up off the ground. Yeah, it was fun."
Moody was noticeably upbeat after the game, which was a nice change from the times he looked glum while having to explain his missed kicks last season.
"Obviously it feels really good," Moody said. "Glad I got a couple chances after the miss earlier to bounce back, get on track, get a couple different situations to throw myself in. I'm glad I got all those chances. I really appreciate the offense getting me in position, and that pick at the end, that was awesome."
Moody revealed Saturday that he's been seeking some outside assistance to help keep him from dwelling on his mistakes. That certainly came in handy against the Raiders, as Moody needed to shake off his early miss and remain focused on the rest of his opportunities.
"I've been talking with a sports performance coach," Moody said. "He's really harping on process over outcome. There's nothing I can do to go back and change the past. The only thing I can do is focus on the next kick and focus on the process. That's as simple as running out on the field, doing a practice kick, just focusing on my steps, making sure those are good, and just not thinking about anything that's previously happened, anything that might happen in the future. Just go back to the thousands of practice reps that I've done and focus on that process."
Also helping Moody along the way have been punter Thomas Morstead and long snapper Jon Weeks, both of whom at age 39 have over a decade and a half of NFL experience. They've been giving Moody the types of pointers that have kept him focused on clearing the next hurdle instead of worrying too much about the previous one.
"They've been great," Moody said. "Having two vets like them, they've been doing it a long time for a reason. Having them to bring you back after the miss -- just 'Hey, it happens, get the next one.' They've seen it all throughout their careers, so having two guys like that who bring that experience, it's really helpful."
Shanahan told reporters that he gave Moody the chance to deliver a postgame speech to the team. But Moody elected to pass on that portion of his victory celebration.
"He asked if I wanted to say anything," Moody said. "I was like, 'Nah, you got it.' I'm not a big speech guy."
The scrutiny will obviously continue to be intense on Moody once the regular season begins, as Saturday's results will be forgotten quickly if inconsistencies pop up once again when the games start to matter. But for now, it seems like the win over the Raiders could turn into an important stepping stone for Moody as he looks to assuage any concerns the 49ers may continue to have about their kicking game.
"It was awesome," Moody said. "That's the kind of stuff you dream of, making long game-winning kicks and getting picked up off the ground, celebrating with your teammates, so that was a pretty cool feeling."