The San Francisco 49ers wasted no time addressing their special teams after releasing Jake Moody. According to sources, the team has reached a verbal agreement with veteran kicker Eddy Piñeiro Jr.
, pending a medical evaluation.
Piñeiro, a Miami native of Cuban and Nicaraguan heritage, has built a reputation as one of the NFL’s most accurate kickers. Undrafted out of Florida in 2018, he has since carved out a steady career across multiple franchises.
The 30-year-old owns an 88.1% career field goal percentage (111-of-126), ranking third in NFL history for accuracy as of the end of 2024. He also boasts a career-long 56-yarder with Carolina in 2023.
After early stints with the Raiders, Bears, Colts, Washington, and Jets, Piñeiro found his groove with the Carolina Panthers (2022–2024), where he became one of the league’s most reliable options. His 2022 season (33-of-35, 94.3%) remains his career highlight.
While his accuracy has been elite, Piñeiro is known more for consistency than raw power. His touchback rate on kickoffs (53.0%) is below league average, and his longest career kick falls short of names like Justin Tucker or Matt Prater.
Still, the 49ers’ move makes sense. With championship aspirations and no room for uncertainty, San Francisco needed reliability. Piñeiro’s proven track record under pressure gives them exactly that as they prepare for Week 2.
“We’ve seen what he can do throughout his career,” one NFC scout told The Athletic. “He may not have the biggest leg, but he’s as steady as they come from inside 50.”
If the deal becomes official after medical clearance, Piñeiro will join the 49ers as their latest attempt to stabilize a position that has haunted them since Robbie Gould’s departure. For San Francisco, precision now matters more than power.
