Being an NFL kicker is arguably the most unforgiving job in the entire sport. A single miss in a big spot can turn a once-beloved player into a pariah. So what happens when a kicker’s struggles spans years?
For former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman, the answer is that he has to be cut. And on the latest episode of his podcast, he declared that San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody needs to suffer that fate.
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Moody converted just one of three field goals in the 49ers’ win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Both of those misses came from inside 40 yards – almost unthinkable in this day and age. His numbers over his three seasons with the team, particularly since 2024, have not been stellar either.
“This has to be it. I thought it during preseason. I thought it last year. I always think it because it’s not acceptable for the position. 76% for a kicker in the NFL is horrible. That’s his career… That’s an unacceptable reality of the sport that’s your profession. It’s like a quarterback throwing for 50%. Eventually you have to replace him,” Sherman declared.
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Jake Moody’s history
In the 2023 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers made Moody one of the highest-drafted kickers in recent memory, taking him 99th overall out of Michigan. At the time it looked like they were getting an elite kicker. He had earned All-American honors at Michigan, never missing an extra point and converting 82.1-percent of his field goals.
As a rookie, Moody looked solid, converting 21 of 25 field goals and leading the league in both extra points made and extra points attempted as the 49ers reached the Super Bowl. However, he did miss a key extra point in that Super Bowl loomed large in the team’s defeat. And that was after missing two field goals in prior playoff games.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 13: Jake Moody #4 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before his team’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on August 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)Ian Maule/Getty Images
2024 was a down year for Moody in general. He made just 70.6-percent of his field goals, converting just 24 of 34 in 14 games.
At this point, Moody is now under 75-percent on field goals in his NFL career. That rate isn’t sustainable in this era.
If Moody wants to keep his job, there’s no room for error anymore. His next miss could very well be his last.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Sep 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.