49ers Kicker Who Replaced Jake Moody Makes First Statement After Kyle Shanahan’s Roster Decisions

Even though the 49ers won in Week 1 against Seattle, they didn’t ignore the problems. Head coach Kyle Shanahan made a bold roster move, waiving kicker Jake Moody and signing veteran Eddy Pineiro the same day. With the spotlight suddenly on him, Pineiro didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts, offering a heartfelt message that speaks volumes about timing, faith, and fresh starts.

“Jesus thank you 🙏🏻 your timing is always the best timing, without you I’m nothing. Excited for this new opportunity #49rs 🏈,” he wrote on Instagram. Pineiro has played for five NFL teams, with some stints brief or limited to practice squads. His most consistent run came with the Panthers, where he ranked among the top five most accurate kickers in NFL history.

After going unsigned in the 2025 offseason, he now steps into a high-pressure role with the 49ers, who released Jake Moody following Week 1 kicking struggles.

Sunday’s win over Seattle masked a key issue for the 49ers, as two missed or blocked kicks left no margin for error. Jake Moody went 1-for-3 on field goals, with a long of 32 yards, and while he hit both PATs, a blocked 36-yarder exposed protection breakdowns beyond just the kicker’s performance. This wasn’t just a one-off.

Moody hit just 70.6% of his kicks in 2024 (24-of-34), a sharp drop from his rookie season. Over 31 games with the 49ers, he went 46-of-62 overall, landing at a 74.2% conversion rate. It’s almost peculiar how it all panned out, though. Kyle Shanahan backed Moody right after the game, “no question” he’d be the kicker. But less than 48 hours later, the 49ers signed Eddy Pineiro.

Maybe it was just typical coach-speak, but it was the right decision. The 49ers went with a veteran, and Pineiro brings a proven track record: 111-of-126 on field goals for an 88.1% career rate, including 22-of-26 (84.6%) in 2024. That’s a big jump from 74.2, and in close games, those percentages matter. There’s also a comfort factor.

The veteran has worked with special-teams coordinator Brant Boyer before (with the Jets), so bringing him in and getting him ready was pretty seamless. But while Kyle Shanahan is busy fixing the kicker problem, there are quite a few underlying issues that need attention.

Kyle Shanahan has some fixing to do

The 49ers’ 17-13 win over the Seahawks might’ve masked the things that need fixing. But it’s imperative to bring them to light. Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints will be an entirely different game, and Shanahan has some work to do.

The rookies didn’t give the fans a lot to be excited about. Nick Martin was pretty much inactive, which definitely doesn’t reflect well. First-round defensive end Mykel Williams contributed almost nothing. Alfred Collins and C.J. West held down the interior rush to an extent, sure. But the lack of splash plays was a cause of real concern.

And there’s Brock Purdy, who threw a couple of picks in Week 1, finishing 26-of-35 for 277 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The fourth-quarter comeback was great, and he was one of the few bright spots of the game, but the fans expect a lot more from him. Forced passes won’t work against the Saints.

Meanwhile, special teams, the unit that let Seattle block that 36-yarder, clearly needs more than just a kicker change. The protection on that play was horrendous. The 49ers can’t just plug in a veteran and call it fixed.

And the biggest issue might’ve been something Shanahan has no control over: George Kittle‘s injury. Yes, the team placed the TE on injured reserve shortly after the opener. And that’s an even bigger issue than red-zone vulnerability and penalties.