San Francisco 49ers fans are growing frustrated with kicker Jake Moody after his latest missed field goal, with many calling for the team to cut ties with the struggling player.
Moody’s difficult season has included a three-game absence due to a high-ankle sprain and performance that falls below NFL kicking standards. The former third-round draft pick missed a crucial kick to end the first half of Monday Night Football, allowing the Detroit Lions to stay within one score.
Fans and media alike took to X to express their disappointment, with many voicing that Moody doesn’t belong on the roster.
“Jake Moody back like he never left. I hate to be that guy, but a lot of his misses have directly caused us to lose games we should’ve won. 49ers have a standard when it comes to kicking, and he’s not it!” @BigOSwann posted on December 30.
Another fan, @naasirkareem, had a harsher take, speculating that Moody has lost the trust of the locker room.
“Jake Moody GTF out of San Fran. I’m sure the players don’t trust you. Trash!!!!!!!!!!” the fan wrote.
Others have turned their criticism toward the coaching staff, questioning their decision to stick with Moody.
“I’ve been out on Jake Moody for a long time now, but I’m at the point where I think bringing him back next year would be a complete dereliction of duty by Kyle Shanahan,” @jiwtim1 posted.
ESPN radio host Rob Guerrera echoed those sentiments, tying Moody’s struggles to the broader issues facing head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“When people talk about why Kyle Shanahan doesn’t win close games, kickers missing field goals like that are part of the reason. Unfortunately for Kyle, he picked the kicker and keeps electing to kick field goals,” Guerrera wrote.
Moody went on to miss another field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, this time from 58 yards out.
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Moody’s 49ers Career
The decision to draft a kicker before Day 3 of the NFL draft is rare, but the 49ers made that move in 2023, selecting Moody in the third round with high expectations. Unfortunately, he has yet to meet those expectations.
In his rookie year, Moody made 84% of his field goal attempts, going 21 of 25, and missed just one extra point, going 60 of 61. While those rookie struggles were considered manageable, his 2024 performance has been a different story.
Including Monday’s game, Moody has made just 23 of 32 field goal attempts this season. His biggest issue has been long-range kicks, an essential skill in the NFL.
From 39 yards and in, Moody remains perfect, but from 40 yards or more, he is just 9 of 18. His struggles have persisted both before and after his injury, though his post-injury performance has been particularly concerning.
Moody After Injury
Moody missed three games after suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 5, returning in Week 10. The 49ers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in that game, but Moody went just 3-for-6 on field goal attempts.
Since his return, Moody’s performance has been dismal. Over eight games, he has made just 10 of 18 attempts, and the 49ers have gone 2-5 during that span. While his misses haven’t been the sole reason for the losses, they’ve done little to boost confidence.
Looking ahead to 2025, the 49ers may decide to keep Moody on the roster, but they’ll likely need to bring in competition to push the second-year kicker.