It comes as a shock to many that the injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers are not only 5-2 but in first place of the NFC West with a perfect 3-0 record in their division.
If the season ended today, the Niners would be where they failed to qualify last season: the playoffs.
With placekicker Jake Moody no longer missing field goals or botching extra points, San Francisco is winning games. A shift on the 49ers' special teams unit has been a major catalyst for this.
The reason why San Francisco is near the top of the NFC standings isn't because of the rushing attack scoring a bunch of touchdowns, nor is it because of the play from their $265 million quarterback Brock Purdy.
It's because of Eddy Pineiro.
If only the 49ers found Eddy Pineiro sooner
Moody was fairly dependable during his rookie season in 2023. The former Michigan Wolverine made 21 of his 25 field goals and all but one of his 61 point-after attempts two seasons ago.
A missed field goal almost cost San Francisco the game in the 2023 NFC Championship against the Detroit Lions, though. And one game later, a blocked point-after try in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs did affect the outcome, causing the 49ers to lose in overtime.
After a down 2024 season, Moody was on a short leash. That last string broke in Week 1 when the Niners almost lost to the Seattle Seahawks when Moody had more errors.
After releasing him in the immediate aftermath, San Francisco then enlisted the services of Pineiro. After missing his first kick, an extra-point attempt, fans got nervous.
However, Pineiro has been perfect since. With 60 points on the season already, the former Carolina Panther placekicker is 17-of-17 from field goals, including 5-of-5 from beyond 50 yards out.
mood pic.twitter.com/IuDeGQnuAm
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) October 20, 2025
Three of San Francisco's wins since Pineiro joined the team are by five points or less. In Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams, the 30-year-old placekicker nailed a 59-yard field goal to give the 49ers a late fourth-quarter lead and also connected on the 41-yard winner in overtime.
The Chicago Bears have inherited one of the Niners old problems in Moody, although they have technically gifted San Francisco Pineiro. The 49ers' newfound kicker was with Chicago during his rookie season back in 2019.
Pineiro has become one of the 49ers' best players in 2025, arguably the most consistent for the red and gold, period.
Perhaps, he may even be their MVP of the season, if kickers ever received such awards.