Moody, once viewed as the 49ers' long-term answer at kicker, has struggled since his promising rookie campaign. In 2024, he missed 10 field goal attempts—nine of them coming after returning from a high-ankle sprain. Those struggles carried into the 2025 preseason, where his inconsistency continued to raise concerns.
The breaking point came in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite the 49ers pulling off a gritty 17-13 win, Moody missed two field goals, ultimately prompting San Francisco to make the difficult decision to move on.
"I think, by where it got to, there wasn't that much of a decision," head coach Kyle Shanahan said this week. "It's always tough with that, especially when you have a talented guy."
Shanahan added, "I think Jake's got a chance to have a hell of a future. He is that talented. But when it gets to that spot, where it is, we all know how last year ended. We know how everyone was looking at him. And obviously, when it gets to that point, you can see it affecting him from a mental game. Then, you don't have much choice. You've got to move on."
Now with the Bears, Moody gets a fresh start and the opportunity to reset his NFL career. Meanwhile, the 49ers quickly filled the vacancy by signing veteran kicker Eddy Piñeiro, who brings proven experience and stability to San Francisco's special teams.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Kyle Shanahan explains Brock Purdy's remarkable success in Seattle
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy earned his first career road start in 2022 with a 21-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Since then, he has played three additional games in one of the loudest and most challenging environments in the NFL — and won all... -
How Eric Kendricks became an instant force multiplier for the 49ers defense
When a veteran signs with an NFL team late in the season, it's often as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option—a short-term fix after injuries pile up. That may have been the initial expectation when the San Francisco 49ers signed linebacker Eric Kendricks in November.... -
49ers vs. Seahawks: Keys to Victory and a Trip to the NFC Championship Game
What's going on, Faithful? It's your boy Wayne Breezie, and we're right back at it with everything on the line. The San Francisco 49ers are headed into hostile territory to take on the Seattle Seahawks, the 2025 NFC West champions, with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on... -
Emptying the tank: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey's historic season of grit
Christian McCaffrey gave everything he had to the San Francisco 49ers this season, and that reality was evident even in the team's final game—a humbling NFC Divisional Round loss to the division rival Seattle Seahawks. McCaffrey suffered a shoulder stinger late in the first...