Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers are making some serious moves this spring. Not only did they lock in Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and defensive leader Fred Warner with big extensions, but they’re also stirring things up on special teams. According to a report, they’re bringing in a new kicker, something Jake Moody probably didn’t see coming or ask for.

Reporter David Lombardi highlighted a new move of Kyle Shanahan and the team on his official X account. He said, “The 49ers have officially signed Greg Joseph to be Jake Moody’s competition at kicker.” Yes! The 49ers brought him in to challenge Moody, who’s been their starter for two years. But the question is, why?

Well, Moody had a shaky season in 2024, missing ten kicks, some from 40, others from 50-plus. That kind of inconsistency opened the door for Kyle Shanahan and his team to bring Joseph in. He’s now walking right through it, ready to fight for that starting job.

But let’s not forget that Greg Joseph’s road to the 49ers has been a wild ride. The 30-year-old veteran kicker from Boca Raton has bounced between teams, from the Browns to the Jets, even spending time on practice squads.

He’s played 75 games and made 82.3% of his field goals, not bad for someone who came in undrafted. This year alone, he suited up for the Giants, Commanders, and Jets, and still kept his cool, hitting 16 of 20 field goals. But now, he’s landed in San Francisco, and things just got real. It’s because, via Lombardi, before his arrival, Kyle Shanahan made some room for him by releasing an eight-year-old veteran, “who’s been with the team (mainly on the practice squad) since 2019.”

Kyle Shanahan wavied Alex Barrett?

It’s a bittersweet shift in San Francisco. Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers just released defensive end Alex Barrett to make room for veteran kicker Greg Joseph. And honestly, it’s tough to see. Barrett’s been around for years, grinding it out on the practice squad, staying ready without much spotlight.

He got his chance last season, stepping into three games and making the most of limited snaps. Nothing flashy, just pure heart and hustle. Last year, in three games, he put up two tackles. He even signed a reserve/future deal back in April, holding onto hope. But now, with the team stacking up their defensive line in the draft and bringing in new talent, perhaps the numbers game caught up to him.

It’s one of those quiet moves that doesn’t make headlines, but for a guy like Barrett, it’s the end of a long fight to stick around. After his exit, Kyle Shanahan will definitely eye Jake Moody, as bringing in a six-year veteran, Greg Joseph, who, too, after releasing his DE, sounds like a real competition for him. If he fails, he could be the next one to leave.