Bears Add Kicker Jake Moody to Practice Squad After 49ers Release

The Chicago Bears have signed kicker Jake Moody to their practice squad following his release from the San Francisco 49ers after a poor start to the 2025 season. Moody, a former third-round pick and 2021 Lou Groza Award winner, struggled with consistency in San Francisco, missing key field goals including a short 27-yard attempt and a blocked 36-yarder in Week 1. The Bears' current kicker, Cairo Santos, also had a difficult game against the Minnesota Vikings, missing a critical 50-yard field goal and failing to execute a kickoff through the end zone, prompting the team to add competition at the position. Despite Moody’s decline from his promising rookie season, where he made 84% of his kicks, Chicago hopes he can regain confidence and challenge Santos for the starting role. Coach Kyle Shanahan and 49ers GM John Lynch expressed disappointment but wished Moody well after his release, while Bears head coach Ben Johnson and GM Ryan Poles appear open to revitalizing their kicking game with this new competition. The coming weeks will determine whether Moody can reclaim his early-career form and secure the Bears’ starting kicker job.