The name "Jake Moody" doesn't necessarily evoke fond memories among San Francisco 49ers fans. After a relatively spotless rookie season, Moody's tenure in the Bay Area imploded, and he was released just one game into his third year.
The kicker played a brief stint with the Chicago Bears before landing with the Washington Commanders, where he actually did well. He made 10 of 11 kicks, but it wasn't enough for him to solidify a spot on the 2026 roster, as the team released him on Monday. Despite his success, it appears the Commanders proved that they are unwilling to fall into the same trap the 49ers did.
The release came shortly after Moody reportedly missed four consecutive field goals in practice. Usually, practice reps aren't the sole determinant as to whether a player makes the team or not, but Washington had no interest in giving the young kicker another shot.
Now, he is on the market (yet again) in search of his fourth NFL team.
Jake Moody didn't overstay his welcome like he did with 49ers
With Moody's release, the Commanders didn't wait to learn the harsh lesson that the 49ers did back in 2024 and 2025. The former Michigan Wolverine served his purpose in Washington at the end of last season, and when things started to go south, the team parted ways before he could inflict any real damage.
San Francisco can't say the same. Moody followed a solid rookie campaign up with an embarrassment of a sophomore year, making just 24 of 34 field goals.
Yet Kyle Shanahan, who is known for holding onto players for too long, stuck with him the entire year. Apparently, Moody didn't inflict enough pain in 2024 and was brought back to begin the following year as well. A 1-for-3 kicking performance in Week 1 finally proved enough for the Niners to call it quits, but not before the damage had been done.
For some reason, San Francisco couldn't see the writing on the wall the way Washington could when Moody began showingsigns of decline. Even as the wheels were falling off, the 49ers seemed to be under the impression that they could set their kicker straight. Instead of adopting the "next guy up" mentality, like the Commanders just did, the 49ers elected to stick with their guns - over and over again - until they couldn't stand it any longer.
Hopefully, after such a tumultuous journey, the red and gold can avoid the same mistake with any future kicker who goes through similar struggles. Having a player's back is heartwarming, but it doesn't necessarily get a team in the win column. The 49ers sure were intent on learning this lesson the hard way, and fans are hoping they won't have to learn it again anytime soon.
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