49ers Waiving Jake Moody Sparks Wild Reactions on Social Media – “Shanahan Gave Him 15828 Chances”

The San Francisco 49ers drafted the Michigan Wolverines' placekicker Jake Moody as the 99th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

49ers Waiving Jake Moody Sparks Wild Reactions on Social Media – “Shanahan Gave Him 15828 Chances”

Kyle Shanahan, Jake Moody (Images via Golden Gate Sports/San Francisco Chronicle)

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The San Francisco 49ers have parted ways with placekicker Jake Moody, the 2023 third-round draft pick. The decision, confirmed on Tuesday, was in light of his disappointing Week 1 performance that followed a series of costly inconsistencies.

Moody, who was drafted 99th overall in the NFL Draft 2023 to provide long-term stability at the position, never fully established himself as a reliable option. His tenure was defined by flashes of strong leg talent overshadowed by missed opportunities in critical moments.

In the 49ers’ season opener at Seattle, Moody missed a 27-yard attempt and had a 30-yarder blocked. Moody’s inability to convert them marked the first time in nearly two decades that San Francisco failed to convert two field goals under 40 yards in the same game.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan initially expressed support for Moody, stating there was “no question” he would remain the kicker. However, by Monday, Shanahan’s tone shifted, and the team elected to move on the following day.

Moody’s inconsistency has been a recurring storyline since his rookie season. He connected on 21 of 25 field goals in 2023, but missed a potential game-winner against Cleveland. Moody struggled in the postseason despite contributing three field goals in the Super Bowl.

His issues deepened last year when, after a strong start, an ankle injury derailed his rhythm. Moody converted just 5 of 14 attempts from 40 yards or longer over the final nine games of the 2024 season, much to Shanahan’s dismay.

Despite offseason efforts to refine his technique, most notably shortening his approach from three steps to two, Moody was unable to regain the trust of the organization.

The 49ers quickly addressed the vacancy by signing veteran kicker Eddy Pineiro, who spent the past three seasons with the Carolina Panthers. The 29-year-old has been one of the NFL’s most accurate specialists in recent years, converting 88.9% of his field goals (80-of-90) and 92.0% of his extra points (80-of-87) during his tenure in Carolina. He was the best kicker in the league at one point and has since fallen to the fourth position.

The Niners Nation rejoice after the 49ers part ways with Jake Moody

Jake Moody hasn’t won any fans in the past season, and his expulsion has 49ers fans on cloud nine. After all, Moody’s antics in the Week 1 game did not just tick off the fans but also several players, according to FOX Sports sideline reporter Pam Oliver, who reported that there were at least two thrown helmets.

Jake Moody
Jake Moody (Image via Yardbarker)

The social media users, especially the 49ers fans, were extremely elated with the news. The consensus iterated that the 49ers are better off without Moody, while also pointing at the downfall of the player from being a third-rounder two seasons ago and being waived in his third season.

A selection of users also pointed towards the hazards of drafting kickers.

One user, going by the handle name Al Sacco, compared Moody’s inconsistency with Buffalo Bills’ Matt Prater. They highlighted that Prater joined few days before the game and converted all field goals, including the walk-off winner, as an example to address their argument to avoid drafting kickers.

The 49ers, who are looking to bounce back from a disastrous season, are already facing issues this season. The receiving room was already weak and had little depth is in more distress following George Kittle’s injury in Week 1. Quarterback Brock Purdy also hinted at difficulties, and the kicker issues on top of it all weren’t the ideal situation. With Eddy Pineiro, the 49ers will look forward to having a sigh of relief whenever there’s a field goal opportunity or an extra point to earn.

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