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

The San Francisco 49ers didn’t waste time making changes after their Week 1 loss to Seattle. 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.

The veteran kicker, who has bounced between teams in recent years, now steps into a high-pressure role with the 49ers.

Sunday’s win over Seattle hid the real issue: two missed or blocked kicks left the 49ers with no margin for error. Moody went 1-for-3 in Week 1 with a long of 32, though he did hit both PATs. And that blocked 36-yarder was especially evident. Seattle’s special-teams unit reached the ball and the play showed breakdowns in protection that went beyond the leg of the kicker.

This wasn’t just a one-off. Moody hit only 70.6% of his kicks in 2024 (24-of-34), a sharp drop from his rookie season. Across 31 games with the 49ers, he’s 46-of-62 overall, standing at a 74.2% conversion rate. You can’t really blame Kyle Shanahan for making this decision here.

It’s almost peculiar how it all panned out, though. He backed Moody right after the game (“no question” he’d be the kicker), but then the 49ers signed Eddy Pineiro less than 48 hours later. Was it just typical coach-speak? That might be the case, but it was the right decision.

Yes, the 49ers went veteran. Peneiro comes in with a proven track record: 111-of-126 on field goals for an 88.1% career rate, and he wrapped up 2024 at 22-of-26 (84.6%). That’s a long jump from 74.2. And these percentages can make all the difference in the world.

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

Yes, 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. Because 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 to 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.