49ers waive kicker Jake Moody after Week 1 struggles despite 17-13 win over Seahawks
San Francisco released its 2023 third-round pick following a 1-for-3 day that included a miss and a blocked attempt; Eddy Pineiro expected to sign
The San Francisco 49ers waived place-kicker Jake Moody on Tuesday after a difficult kicking performance in the team’s 17-13 season-opening win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Moody was 1-for-3 on field-goal attempts in the game, converting only a 32-yarder, missing a 27-yarder in the second quarter and having a 36-yarder blocked in the third. The missed attempts came in a game decided by four points.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan appeared to back Moody immediately after the game, telling reporters, "Right now, I have no question," according to Pro Football Talk. Shanahan said he planned to evaluate the situation while traveling, but the team moved quickly to change course in the days that followed.
NFL Network reported that the 49ers were expected to sign veteran kicker Eddy Pineiro as Moody’s replacement. The club did not immediately confirm the signing.
Moody, a third-round pick out of Michigan in 2023, had been a steady presence for San Francisco through the 2023 and 2024 seasons and produced a highlight in Super Bowl LVIII, when he connected on a 55-yard field goal that briefly set the Super Bowl record before Kansas City’s Harrison Butker broke it later in the game.
Special teams performance has been a focal point for NFL clubs in recent seasons, and missed field-goal attempts or blocked kicks often prompt swift roster moves. The 49ers’ decision to move on comes as teams across the league prepare to adjust rosters early in the regular season, particularly at the specialist positions where performance margins are small and the margin for error is thin.
Moody’s blocked attempt in the third quarter underscored the potential influence of protection and rush as well as execution. San Francisco’s offense and defense combined to secure the victory, but the kicking game’s instability posed a clear risk to the outcome.
The 49ers placed a premium on Moody when they selected him in the third round two years ago, and his early-career success included notable long-range kicks in high-profile situations. The roster move leaves Moody a free agent and opens a competition for the kicking job that the 49ers had expected to have settled entering Week 1.
The club’s next steps on the roster will be watched closely by fans and analysts, as teams often make quick changes at kicker following poor starts. San Francisco’s win keeps the team unblemished through its opener, but the move signals a short leash for specialists and the importance the organization places on consistency in the kicking game.
The 49ers did not immediately provide further comment on the waiver beyond the roster transaction. NFL Network’s report on a potential Pineiro signing and Shanahan’s postgame remarks were the primary public developments in the hours after the game.