Former 49ers Kicker Jake Moody Retires Immediately After Being Waived

The San Francisco 49ers walked away from Sunday’s matchup with a 17–13 win over the Seattle Seahawks — but the bigger shock came after the final whistle. Just minutes after the game, the team announced the release of kicker Jake Moody, and the 24-year-old immediately revealed his decision to retire from football.

Moody’s breaking point arrived in the first half. With a chance to give San Francisco a 10–7 lead, he missed a routine 27-yard field goal, clanging it off the upright. Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t mince words, calling the miss “inexcusable” — a remark that effectively sealed the young kicker’s fate.

Seattle wasted no time capitalizing, as Jason Myers converted from 48 yards, highlighting the contrast between consistency and costly mistakes. Shanahan’s postgame comments left little doubt: the 49ers’ patience with Moody had officially run out.

A third-round pick in 2023, Moody entered the NFL with high expectations, but never found his rhythm. He finished the 2024 season hitting barely 70% of his field goal attempts and stumbled again during this preseason. Since Week 10 of last year, he had made only 12 of his last 23 attempts — numbers that eroded whatever trust still lingered inside the locker room.

“I gave everything I had, but it’s time for me to move on,” Moody said in a brief statement, thanking his teammates and the fans who stood by him.

The decision underscores just how unforgiving the Super Bowl chase can be. San Francisco had already moved on from veteran Greg Joseph earlier this summer, keeping Moody more out of necessity than confidence. But after Sunday’s miss, the team made it clear: even in victory, no one is safe if they can’t meet the standard.

For Moody, retirement closes the door on a short but turbulent NFL career. For the 49ers, the move is a message to the rest of the roster — in the pursuit of a championship, results matter more than reputation.