Who is Eddy Pineiro? The veteran kicker the 49ers signed to replace Jake Moody after recent struggles

The San Francisco 49ers made a swift move to replace Jake Moody, parting ways with the young kicker and signing Eddy Pineiro, a veteran of the NFL since 2019. With the regular season underway and little margin for error, the 49ers prioritized reliability over potential, bringing in a kicker who knows his way around pressure situations.

A look at Eddy Pineiro’s journey to the 49ers

Eddy Pineiro isn’t a household name, but his experience in the league speaks volumes. At 30 years old, Pineiro has been part of three NFL teams: the Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and most recently, the Carolina Panthers.

His career trajectory shows resilience and adaptability, having gone undrafted in 2019 yet carving out a respectable career. Most notably, Pineiro wasn’t on any roster during training camp this year, essentially making him a free agent waiting for an opportunity.Last season, Pineiro converted 22 of 26 field goal attempts, yielding an accuracy rate of 84.6%. His career field goal percentage stands at 88.1%, significantly higher than Jake Moody’s 74.2%. For a team like the 49ers, whose playoff hopes rely heavily on every point, Pineiro’s ability to consistently hit chip-shot kicks was too valuable to overlook.

Why the 49ers made the switch

The decision to replace Moody wasn’t just about statistics—it was about reliability when the stakes are highest.

“They couldn’t afford to be picky,” says insiders familiar with the situation. The team needed a kicker who could confidently handle the short and mid-range field goals, the ones that often decide close games. Moody’s inconsistency in this area proved too costly for San Francisco’s playoff ambitions.

While bringing in a kicker who wasn’t part of any team during the offseason carries some risk, the 49ers clearly view Pineiro as a steady, no-nonsense solution. After all, even the Buffalo Bills recently trusted Matt Prater, who came off the street, to deliver a game-winning kick.Also Read: J.J. McCarthy’s stunning comeback in NFL debut puts him in Hall of Fame conversationEddy Pineiro now has the chance to prove his worth in San Francisco and help the 49ers stabilize a position that’s been anything but stable this season.