SEATTLE – Jake Moody’s tenure with the San Francisco 49ers, once filled with promise as a third-round draft pick in 2023, is teetering on the edge of collapse. His performance in the season opener at Lumen Field against the Seattle Seahawks—a game the 49ers narrowly won 17-13 despite a litany of challenges—has intensified scrutiny on the young kicker. Two missed kicks, including a shocking 27-yard field goal that clanged off the upright, have left teammates frustrated, coaches hedging, and fans questioning whether Moody’s time in San Francisco is running out.
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Moody’s struggles are not new. His rookie season ended with a blocked extra point in Super Bowl LVII, a critical miss in a game the 49ers lost in overtime. His second season saw him miss nine field goals in his final nine games, the most in the NFL over that span. Yet, Sunday’s performance may have marked a new low. A 27-yard attempt in the second quarter—a chip shot by NFL standards—hit the left upright. Later, a 36-yard attempt was blocked due to poor protection, and while Moody managed to sneak a 32-yarder inside the right upright to tie the game at 10-10, the damage was done. The 49ers overcame injuries to George Kittle and Jauan Jennings, two second-half interceptions, and a hostile Seattle crowd, but Moody’s misses nearly cost them the game.
The postgame locker room told a story of dwindling patience. Moody, usually willing to face the media after tough outings, left early, avoiding the spotlight. His teammates’ comments, even those meant to be supportive, carried an undertone of exasperation. One anonymous player expressed outright frustration with Moody’s inconsistency. Team captains Kyle Juszczyk and Fred Warner, when pressed on their confidence in the kicker, offered responses that were anything but ringing endorsements.
Juszczyk, after a five-second pause, said, “At the end of the day, we know he’s talented. He’s got the leg. He’s got it in him. We’re just hopeful that he pulls through in those pressure moments.” When asked if the 27-yard miss raised questions about Moody’s mental state, Juszczyk added, “Yeah, we want them all to go in. Whether it’s a shorter one, or a longer one. All I can say: I hope they go in next time.”
Warner was even less committal. “I don’t know if I have anything to comment on that, to be honest,” he said when asked about his belief in Moody. “We understand that we all have a job to do. Everybody’s got to do their job. That’s it.” On the blocked kick, Warner pointed to protection issues but didn’t absolve Moody entirely: “I’m sure he wants that kick back in the beginning.”
Moody’s talent is undeniable. He’s the only kicker in Super Bowl history to make multiple 50-plus-yard field goals, showcasing a leg that can compete with the NFL’s best. Yet, his self-belief—a critical trait for a kicker in the high-pressure NFL environment—appears to be wavering. Before Sunday, Moody was perfect (16-for-16) on field goals under 30 yards and nearly flawless (29-for-30) inside 40 yards. The 27-yard miss, one of only five such misses in the NFL in 2024, was a stark departure from his prior reliability on shorter kicks.
The 49ers’ faith in Moody has been tested before. Last season, he ranked 32nd in the NFL in field-goal percentage, prompting the team to sign veteran Greg Joseph to compete with him in training camp. Moody retained his job, but his performance against Seattle did little to solidify his standing. Punter Thomas Morstead, who doubles as Moody’s holder, offered insight last month after Moody nailed a 59-yard game-winner in a preseason game. Morstead noted that Moody’s confidence is “fickle” and that he needs to “attack” every kick with the same conviction. When asked about Moody’s mindset after Sunday’s debacle, Morstead demurred: “You’d have to ask him. I’m not going to make a comment on anything related to what he may be feeling.”
Head coach Kyle Shanahan, who has stood by Moody through two turbulent seasons, showed visible frustration on the sideline after the 27-yard miss, appearing to restrain himself from a physical outburst. Postgame, Shanahan initially insisted there was “no question” about Moody’s job security but later left the door open for change. “Right now, I have no question,” he said. “I’m trying to finish today. I’ll get on the plane and evaluate stuff.”
Some teammates offered tepid support. Left tackle Trent Williams, a team captain, acknowledged Moody’s struggles but shifted focus: “We need to put the ball in the end zone anyway. We don’t need to settle for field goals.” Center Jake Brendel called Moody “one of the more focused special-teams guys” but admitted, “For some reason, some kicks just don’t go the way he wants.”
Moody’s actions during the game hinted at his mental struggle. During a replay review in the fourth quarter, he jogged to the 20-yard line, faced the same goalpost where he missed earlier, and took an imaginary swing with his leg. Was he visualizing redemption? He wasn’t around to explain.
General manager John Lynch and Shanahan face a difficult decision. The 49ers invested a third-round pick in Moody, the highest-drafted kicker in seven years, and cutting him would be an admission of a rare draft misstep. But with a roster built to contend for a Super Bowl, can they afford to keep a kicker who falters under pressure? Warner’s parting words, while supportive on the surface, carried a grim undertone: “We’re going to keep riding with him until the wheels fall off.” After Sunday’s performance, it feels like those wheels are already wobbling.