The San Francisco 49ers began the season facing uncertainty at kicker. Jake Moody, the only one on the roster, was coming off a rough year in which he converted just 70.6% of his field goals and 97% of his extra points.
Despite fending off veteran Greg Joseph during the offseason, Moody failed to instill confidence when he missed two of three attempts in the opener. The 49ers quickly made a move, releasing him between Weeks 1 and 2 and signing veteran Eddy Pineiro off the street.
That decision has paid off in a big way. Since joining the team, Pineiro has gone a perfect 17-for-17 on field goals, including five from 50 yards or longer. Head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted he did not expect this level of success.
“Probably not,” Shanahan said. “He hasn’t missed one yet except for his first extra point. So, I wouldn’t count that. He said he hit every field goal except for one extra point. That definitely gives me a lot of confidence.”
New 49er has dramatically exceeded Kyle Shanahan’s expectations (via @TheNinersWire, @Mike_Masala)#49ers #FTTB
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) October 25, 2025
Pineiro’s streak of 17 consecutive made field goals is now the best start by any kicker in franchise history. His accuracy rate of 89.51% ranks third all-time in the NFL, behind only Cameron Dicker of the Los Angeles Chargers and Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys.
More: 49ers GM John Lynch hints at potential trade amid injury crisis
Pineiro’s record-breaking run gives 49ers much-needed stability
When the 49ers turned the page on Moody, the move was viewed as a risk. But Pineiro’s consistency has turned it into one of the team’s smartest decisions of the season.
After hitting 84.6% of his field goals and 94.3% of extra points during his Carolina Panthers stint, Piñeiro has been flawless in San Francisco.
Following the 49ers’ 20–10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, Pineiro surpassed Robbie Gould’s mark of 15 straight made field goals to begin a season.
“It’s been amazing, honestly,” Pineiro said after the game. “If you’d asked me when I first got here am I going to get a franchise record… You know it’s a dream come true. Great snaps, great holds, and the guys blocking for me. These guys that block for me do not get enough credit, it’s a unit thing.”
Shanahan echoed that praise, crediting Pineiro’s dependability and work ethic. With only one missed extra point since signing, Piñeiro has stabilized a once-vulnerable special teams unit.
His arrival has given the 49ers both reliability and confidence in critical moments—a clear sign that Shanahan’s gamble was worth it.
More NFL news:
