Former 49ers kicker Jake Moody joins Bears

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.