A Comprehensive Guide to Jake Moody

Jake Moody is a professional NFL placekicker who has played for the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Washington Commanders since entering the league in 2023. While his career has spanned the Midwest and the East Coast, his time with the 49ers frequently brought him to Southern California for high-stakes matchups in Los Angeles County.

Here are the key facts at a glance:

Moody's story is one of rapid highs and sharp lows. He went from a decorated college star at Michigan to a Super Bowl kicker with the 49ers - then found himself waived and unemployed early in 2025. Just hours after joining the Chicago Bears' active roster, he kicked a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired against the Washington Commanders. That kind of whirlwind doesn't happen often in the NFL.

His journey - from Ann Arbor to the Super Bowl to the waiver wire and back - makes him one of the most compelling stories in recent NFL special teams history. Whether he's playing in the rain or under the bright lights of SoFi Stadium near Hollywood, Moody remains a player to watch.

Basic jake moody glossary:

Before he was a household name in the NFL, jake moody was a living legend in Ann Arbor. His tenure at the University of Michigan wasn't just successful; it was historic. We often see kickers fly under the radar, but Moody's leg was so reliable that he became a central figure in the Wolverines' dominance during the early 2020s.

His crowning achievement came in 2021 when he was awarded the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate placekicker. He was the first player in Michigan history to receive this honor. That same year, he was named a Consensus All-American and the Big Ten Kicker of the Year. By the time he hung up his maize and blue jersey, he had secured the Michigan career scoring record with a staggering 355 total points.

Moody wasn't just a "fair weather" kicker. He was known for his "clutch gene," delivering game-winning field goals against Nebraska and Illinois. His ability to remain calm under the intense pressure of over 100,000 fans at the Big House prepared him for the professional stage. For more details on his collegiate journey, you can view the Jake Moody Michigan Wolverines Profile. Even as a college star, Moody's talent was recognized by scouts from across the country, including those based in the sports hubs of Santa Monica and West LA.

Born on November 23, 1999, in Commerce, Michigan, jake moody grew up in Northville. At Northville High School, he was already showing signs of a professional-grade leg. However, despite his obvious talent, his path to the top wasn't handed to him on a silver platter.

Moody actually committed to the University of Michigan without a scholarship, entering as a walk-on. It didn't take long for the coaching staff to realize they had a diamond in the rough. By July of his freshman year, the school corrected the oversight and put him on a full scholarship. He made an immediate impact, setting a Michigan single-game record as a freshman by kicking six field goals against Indiana. This early grit-going from a walk-on to a scholarship star-defined the mental toughness we see in him today.

The 2023 NFL Draft saw a rare occurrence: a kicker being selected in the top 100. The San Francisco 49ers, looking for a reliable successor to the legendary Robbie Gould, used a 3rd-round pick (99th overall) to secure jake moody. He was only the second kicker since 2016 to be drafted that high, signaling the massive expectations placed on his shoulders. This move kept him on the West Coast, where he would frequently travel to Downtown Los Angeles for divisional games.

His rookie season was largely a success. He stepped into a high-pressure environment for a Super Bowl contender and held his own. The peak of this early career came during Super Bowl LVIII. On the biggest stage in sports, Moody nailed a 55-yard field goal, which briefly set the record for the longest field goal in Super Bowl history. While the record was broken later in that same game by Harrison Butker, the moment proved that Moody could perform when the world was watching. You can track his professional progression through the Jake Moody Career Stats page.

During his 2023 rookie campaign, jake moody posted an impressive 84% field goal percentage, connecting on 21 of 25 attempts. He also proved nearly perfect on extra points, going 60-for-61. His performance earned him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team, and he finished the season with 123 total points.

One of his most notable feats was setting the 49ers franchise record for the longest field goal by a rookie, a 57-yard bomb. Throughout the season, he earned the nickname "Money" for his perceived reliability. However, as any NFL fan knows, the life of a kicker is a roller coaster, and the "Money" tag would be put to the test as he moved into his second season.

If 2023 was the ascent, 2025 was the whirlwind. After a regression in 2024 and a rocky start to the 2025 season, the San Francisco 49ers made a move that shocked many: they waived jake moody. The decision was partially driven by a need for roster flexibility following an injury to star tight end George Kittle, who was placed on Injured Reserve.

Moody found himself unemployed, but not for long. The Chicago Bears, dealing with a quadriceps injury to their regular kicker Cairo Santos, signed Moody to their practice squad. In a story that sounds like a Hollywood script-fitting for a player who has spent time in the spotlight of Venice and Beverly Hills-Moody was elevated to the active roster just seven hours before a Monday Night Football matchup against the Washington Commanders.

Despite the rain, wind, and an earlier blocked field goal, Moody stayed focused. As the clock hit zero, he stepped up and drilled a 38-yard walk-off field goal to secure a 25-24 victory for the Bears. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders, parading him across the soggy field in a moment of pure redemption.

Following his heroics in Chicago, Moody's journey took another turn when he signed with the Washington Commanders. In a league where special teams units are constantly shifting, Moody has become the ultimate "plug-and-play" weapon.

The future for jake moody looks promising, albeit volatile. His 2025 season has been a masterclass in resilience. He set a Bears debut record for the most field goals in a first game (4) and has maintained a 100% field goal rate in his early appearances with the Commanders.

The projections for Moody suggest that while he may face roster volatility, his "big leg" and recent clutch performances make him a valuable asset. He has shown he can bounce back from being waived-a mental hurdle that breaks many kickers. As he continues to refine his technique and adapt to different stadium environments, from the East Coast to the sunny fields of Malibu, we expect him to stabilize his career and perhaps find a long-term home in the NFC East.

To truly understand the trajectory of jake moody, we have to look at the numbers. While his rookie year was stellar, his sophomore season saw a dip that led to his eventual release from San Francisco.

As of late 2025, his career NFL field goal percentage sits at 76.7% (56/73). While this is lower than the elite tier of NFL kickers, his 98% extra point accuracy remains a strong point of his game. His 2025 splits show a significant improvement in high-pressure situations, suggesting he has moved past the "yips" that plagued his 2024 season.

The road hasn't always been smooth for jake moody. In 2024, he faced a significant "sophomore slump," where his field goal percentage dropped to 70.6%. He missed key kicks in high-profile games, including 51 and 58-yarders against the Detroit Lions. These misses led to visible frustration on the sidelines, including a reported dispute involving teammate Deebo Samuel. This performance was a far cry from the precision expected of athletes who train in the elite facilities of Los Angeles County.

Injuries also played a role in his struggles. An ankle sprain suffered during the 2024 season hampered his power and consistency, leading the 49ers to temporarily bring in replacements like Matthew Wright. The mental toll of these struggles was evident when Moody admitted to being at one of his "lowest times" after the Lions game. However, his successful stint in Chicago and Washington proves that he has the mental toughness to overcome these hurdles.

The 49ers waived jake moody in September 2025 following a period of inconsistency and missed kicks in the season opener. The move was also a strategic roster decision; the team needed an active roster spot to manage other injuries, specifically after placing George Kittle on Injured Reserve.

Moody holds the Michigan career scoring record with 355 points. In the NFL, he set the 49ers franchise record for the longest field goal by a rookie (57 yards). He also set a Chicago Bears record for the most field goals made in a franchise debut (4) and was the first Bears kicker to boot a walk-off field goal as time expired in his first game-a feat that resonated with fans from Chicago to the sports bars of Downtown Los Angeles.

Throughout his professional career, jake moody has played for the San Francisco 49ers (2023-2025), the Chicago Bears (2025), and most recently, the Washington Commanders (2025-present).

The career of jake moody serves as a perfect microcosm of the life of an NFL kicker: one day you are the hero of the Super Bowl, the next you are looking for work on a practice squad. From his legendary days at Michigan to his whirlwind 2025 season, Moody has proven that he possesses both the leg strength and the heart to survive in this league.

At Edible LA, we love a good redemption story. Whether it's a chef bouncing back with a new pop-up in Silverlake or Echo Park, or a kicker nailing a game-winner in the rain, resilience is what defines greatness. As Moody continues his journey with the Washington Commanders, we'll be watching to see if "Money" can keep the streak alive.

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