Place kicker Eddy Piñeiro chose the San Francisco 49ers over the Atlanta Falcons for a better chance to win. The decision is a massive plus for the 49ers’ special teams unit, which had been reeling after multiple miscues in Week 1 that led to the release of their veteran kicker. 

According to reports, he made the decision swiftly when the 49ers called after releasing Jake Moody.

“I want to win games. I want to be a part of a good culture,” Piñeiro said. “I’m in my eighth year of my career, and I want to win.” 

Piñeiro enters San Francisco with solid credentials. He comes in having made 80 of his 90 field goal attempts over the past three years with the Carolina Panthers. He has made 111 of 126 field goals in his career, including a 56-yarder. In 2022, he posted one of his best seasons: he made 94.3 percent of his kicks, going 33 of 35. In particular, he nailed long-distance attempts 13 of 14 from 40-plus yards and both of his tries from 50-plus yards.

“And at the end of the day, you just got to make kicks,” he said. “And I know if I don’t make kicks, I’ll be out of here, so I’ve got to make kicks.”

The Falcons’ interest was real but less decisive. Atlanta held tryouts and brought in multiple kickers, including Piñeiro, to compete against their struggling starter. They considered Parker Romo and others for the role. Piñeiro had the chance to sign elsewhere, but the 49ers made him a priority.   

Piñeiro has shown he can handle windy conditions, as he literally began his career in the Windy City. During his rookie season, He made 23 of 28 field goals (82.1 percent) and 27 of 29 extra points (93.1 percent) during his rookie year in Chicago. Like former 49er Robbie Gould, he proved he can handle tough environments. The decision rested on Piñeiro’s desire to win, joined with a realistic assessment of who needed him more. The 49ers’ urgency and his fit within that setting made the choice clear.  

The 49ers needed a replacement. After Moody struggled, the team decided to move on and offered Piñeiro a one-year contract. He viewed the Bay Area role as more than just a job; he saw it as a chance to join a well-run organization with championship aspirations.

49ers prioritize reliability as Moody’s inconsistency leads to Piñeiro signing

Kyle Shanahan made it clear why the 49ers moved on from Moody. The young kicker showed talent. But the mental side of the game became a problem. His performance late last season raised concerns, and the struggles carried into 2025.

“Jake’s got a chance to have a hell of a future,” Shanahan said.  “He’s that talented. We 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.”  

In the opener, Moody missed a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter and later had a 36-yard attempt blocked. Those misses added to a pattern of inconsistency. Over his short in San Fran, he connected on 74.2 percent of his field goals, well below the league average of 84.5 percent in the last decade. Confidence is critical for kickers, and Moody’s body language reflected the pressure. In the final three games of 2024, Moody made just 2 of 6 attempts with a missed extra point. The 49ers could not afford more lapses in a season with championship expectations.

“I don’t think it’s that hard to have because I think it is what it is. I think he knows,” Shanahan said. “He wouldn’t disagree with us. He’d have to say why, but it looked like he lost his confidence, and he wasn’t kicking the ball well enough and was way too inconsistent.” 

By contrast, Piñeiro brings stability. He owns an 88.1 percent career success rate, ranking among the top 10 active kickers. For Shanahan, the choice was about trust. Moody’s potential remains high, but the team needed reliability now.