The San Francisco 49ers have long prided themselves on building a roster capable of competing at the highest level, with meticulous attention to detail across every position. However, as the 2025 season looms, one glaring issue continues to undermine their aspirations: the inconsistent performance of kicker Jake Moody. Once heralded as a third-round draft pick with immense potential, Moody’s tenure with the 49ers has been marked by costly missteps and a lack of reliability that the team can no longer afford to tolerate. It’s time—again—for the 49ers to make the tough but necessary decision to part ways with Moody, a move that would serve as an act of mercy for both the player and the franchise.
A Promising Start Derailed by Inconsistency
When the 49ers selected Jake Moody in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the move raised eyebrows. Spending such a high pick on a kicker is a rarity, signaling the team’s belief in Moody’s ability to stabilize a position that has historically been a sore spot for the franchise. Coming out of Michigan, Moody brought a strong collegiate resume, including a Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker in 2021. His leg strength and accuracy in college suggested he could be a long-term solution for San Francisco.
However, the transition to the NFL has been anything but smooth. In his rookie season, Moody showed flashes of promise but struggled with consistency, missing key kicks in critical moments. His most infamous moment came during Super Bowl LVIII, where he missed a crucial extra point in the fourth quarter, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to force overtime with a field goal of their own. The miss proved to be a turning point, as the 49ers ultimately fell short in their quest for a sixth Lombardi Trophy.
The 2024 season offered Moody a chance at redemption, but the results were even more troubling. Reports indicate that he missed nearly 30 percent of his field goal attempts, a statistic that places him among the league’s least reliable kickers. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, this level of inconsistency is untenable. While Moody has occasionally delivered in clutch situations, his overall body of work has been defined by too many shanks and too little confidence, leaving the 49ers in a constant state of unease whenever he lines up for a kick.
The Special Teams Overhaul and Moody’s Precarious Position
This offseason, the 49ers have taken decisive action to address their special teams woes. The team parted ways with their punter and long snapper, signaling a complete overhaul of the unit. Yet, inexplicably, Moody remains on the roster. According to CBS Sports’ John Breech, the 49ers have signed veteran kicker Greg Joseph to compete with Moody for the starting role, setting the stage for a potential changing of the guard. If Joseph outperforms Moody in the preseason, the third-round experiment could come to an unceremonious end.
The decision to bring in Joseph is a clear indication that the 49ers’ patience with Moody is wearing thin. While the team’s investment in him—a rare third-round pick for a kicker—has likely delayed the inevitable, sentimentality cannot override performance. Moody’s struggles have been well-documented, with analysts describing him as a “head case” whose mental fragility has compounded his technical issues. The 49ers’ reluctance to cut him sooner may stem from the sunk cost of that draft pick, but clinging to a failing investment only compounds the problem.
Why Cutting Moody is the Right Move
Releasing Jake Moody would not only benefit the 49ers but also offer the young kicker a chance to reset his career elsewhere. For San Francisco, the reasoning is straightforward: a reliable kicker is a non-negotiable asset for a contending team. Close games, especially in the playoffs, often hinge on a kicker’s ability to deliver under pressure. Moody’s track record suggests he is not that player. With a roster stacked with talent like Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, and George Kittle, the 49ers cannot afford to let a weak link at kicker derail their season.
Moreover, the 49ers’ special teams unit has been a persistent liability, and Moody’s struggles are a significant part of that equation. The team’s decision to overhaul other aspects of the unit shows a willingness to make tough choices. Keeping Moody out of loyalty or hope for a turnaround risks undermining the progress made elsewhere. Greg Joseph, while not a household name, has a proven track record as a reliable NFL kicker. If he can provide even a modest improvement over Moody’s performance, the upgrade would be worth the change.
For Moody, a fresh start could be a blessing in disguise. The pressure of playing for a high-profile franchise like the 49ers, coupled with the weight of his draft status, appears to have taken a toll. A new environment, perhaps with a team that has lower expectations or a less intense spotlight, could allow him to rebuild his confidence and refine his craft. At just 25 years old, Moody still has time to salvage his career, but that turnaround is unlikely to happen in San Francisco.
Looking Ahead: A Lesson in Tough Choices
The 49ers’ handling of Jake Moody serves as a reminder that even the best-run organizations can misjudge talent. The decision to draft a kicker in the third round was a gamble that hasn’t paid off, and the team must now acknowledge that mistake. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have built a roster capable of contending for a Super Bowl, but their legacy will depend on their ability to make difficult decisions without hesitation.
As the 2025 season approaches, the 49ers face a pivotal moment. Cutting Jake Moody would be an act of mercy—not just for a player who has struggled to find his footing, but for a franchise that cannot afford to let sentimentality stand in the way of success. The signing of Greg Joseph offers a clear path forward. If he proves capable in the preseason, the 49ers must act decisively and move on from Moody. The clock is ticking, and San Francisco’s Super Bowl window won’t stay open forever.