It's often said in football circles how special teams is important. As much as someone might say otherwise, it's been proving true for the San Francisco 49ers.
Last season, the Niners' special teams success was in a rough place. It's more than just the issues with the kicking woes from Nick Moody. That's only scratching the surface on many of San Francisco's special teams issues from last season.
But this year, Brant Boyer has done a great job turning things around in his first year as special teams coordinator. Much like he did with the New York Jets.
And Boyer isn't the only new addition who's had a share in San Francisco's success on special teams. The 49ers' switch from Moody was a huge reason for the new shift in making this part of the game important. Enter Week 2 in the post-Moody 49ers era. Eddy Piñeiro gets signed and so much of his production jumps off the page.
Last season, the Niners were tied for sixth-worst in field-goal percentage (76.7). They also were 60 percent on field goals that were more than 40 yards out. So far this season, not only has Piñeiro (and partially Matt Gay) gotten the 49ers tied for third-best in field percentage, but San Francisco has been perfect on field-goal attempts since week two. That includes a perfect 15-of-15 on field goals more than 40 yards out.
And the punting game has also improved with the signing of Thomas Morstead in the offseason. He's matched the amount of times the team has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line from last season (19). Last season, the 49ers were tied for third-worst in that category. And now, they're tied for sixth-best in giving the defense favorable field position.
Although the impact in the punt game hasn't been a complete fix — San Francisco dropped from 10th most punt-return yards allowed to 12th most (also allowed a punt-return touchdown this season) — the coverage game has gotten better on kickoffs. The 49ers are averging fewer kickoff return yards (28.6 in 2024 to 25.3 in 2025), and they're doing this on fewer touchbacks from a year ago (58.4 touchback percent last season to 17.1 percent this season).
But one other move that's helped special teams take the next step has been the trade for Skyy Moore. The calls for a quality return specialist by 49ers fans had been around for some time. But it wasn't expected to happen after the move for the former Kansas City Chief.
He's averaged 28.1 yards per kickoff return (second-best in the league on a minimum of 25 kick returns). That's the most by a Niner since Vic Washington in 1972. And Moore is averaging 12.1 yards per return (10th best in the league), the most since Ted Ginn Jr. in 2011. Moore has already helped the Niners get more kick returns of 20-plus and 40-plus yards than last season. And he gave the 49ers their first 40-plus-yard return since 2013.
A huge revival for many players on special teams. And luckily, it's happening in San Francisco.