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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.

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Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side