Eddy Pineiro: The 49ers Kicker Whose Overtime Heroics Are Turning Heads
Quick question: when was the last time you cheered for a kicker like he was a quarterback? For 49ers fans, it was probably the night Eddy Piñeiro bent a 41-yarder in off the upright to beat the Rams.
Kickers are like smoke detectors. Nobody thinks about them until something goes wrong. Piñeiro flipped that script. Let’s look at what he did and why San Francisco paid him.
What Happened in the 49ers’ Overtime Win Over the Rams?
On Thursday night, October 2, 2025, Piñeiro hit a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the 49ers then stopped Kyren Williams on fourth down to hold on for a 26-23 victory. kmph
The odds looked bad. San Francisco traveled on a short week without Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, George Kittle and its top three wide receivers. That’s like entering a boxing match with one hand taped behind your back. ESPN
How Did the Fourth Quarter Unfold?
It was chaos. Here’s the sequence:
- Piñeiro’s 59-yard field goal with 2:52 left broke the tie. kmph
- Rookie Alfred Collins punched the ball loose at the goal line and recovered it, stopping a Rams go-ahead touchdown. kmph
- Rams kicker Joshua Karty answered with a tying 48-yarder with two seconds left. kmph
- Piñeiro then banked in the 41-yard winner off the inside of the left upright with 5:51 left in overtime. the42
That’s a 59-yarder in the final minutes and a pressure kick in overtime. It’s the kicker version of hitting a walk-off home run after a ninth-inning triple.
Why Did That Overtime Kick Matter So Much?
The 49ers had just rebounded from a loss to Jacksonville, improving to 4-1 and 3-0 against division foes. Divisional wins carry extra weight in tiebreakers. One bounce off a metal post helped swing that math. flashscore
If you want the full blow-by-blow from the other sideline, read our recap of the 49ers–Rams overtime thriller.
Who Is Eddy Piñeiro? From Undrafted Kicker to Franchise Piece
His path was far from a straight line. Piñeiro signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Then came a journey that would make a touring musician tired: 1rmg
- Bears (2019–20)
- Jets (2021)
- Panthers (2022–24)
- 49ers (2025–present)
He’s a Miami native who spent two seasons at the University of Florida. 1rmg
Why Did the 49ers Sign Him in the First Place?
San Francisco needed stability. After Jake Moody went 1 for 3 in the 2025 season opener, the 49ers waived him and signed Piñeiro. The results were immediate. If kicking were a restaurant, he turned a shaky kitchen into a reliable one overnight. sfstandard
If you’re tracking how other teams handle kicker turnover, our look at the Chargers–Commanders clash is a good companion read. Moody later went to Washington.
Eddy Piñeiro’s Stats: Just How Accurate Is He?
Numbers don’t have opinions, so let’s let them talk.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| 2025 regular-season games | 14 |
| 2025 field goals | 28 of 29 (96.6%) |
| 2025 extra points | 34 of 38 |
| Field goals from 50+ (2025) | 6 made |
| Playoff field goals (2025) | 3 of 3 |
| Career games | 84 |
| Career field goals | 139 of 155 (89.7%) |
| Career extra points | 150 of 163 (92.0%) |
| Contract (March 2026) | 4 years, $17M |
Sources: 49ers.com and Associated Press reporting, 2026.
His only 2025 miss came from 64 yards at the end of the first half in Indianapolis. That’s a miss you can live with. sfexaminer
How Does He Rank All-Time?
His 89.7% career mark ranks second all time among kickers with at least 100 attempts, behind only Cameron Dicker’s 93.5%. One honest caveat: his career extra-point rate of 91.5% ranks 42nd of 48 qualifying kickers since 2015. Nobody is perfect. sfexaminersfexaminer
How Much Is Eddy Piñeiro Paid? The 2026 Contract
The 49ers didn’t let him test free agency. They agreed to a four-year, $17 million deal that ranks 13th in average annual value among kickers. The deal reportedly guarantees him $10 million. sfexaminersfstandard
Think of it as insurance on the one position fans only notice when it fails. His 96.6% season was the second-best single-season field-goal rate in franchise history, and he made his first 25 attempts with the team. 49ers
What Does This Mean for 49ers Fans?
Practical takeaways:
- Close games are safer. Anything inside 55 yards is a reasonable bet.
- Fantasy managers take note. Kickers with elite accuracy on a strong offense hold real value.
- Roster stability. The kicking trio stays intact, which matters for timing and trust.
Why Do Kickers Like Piñeiro Decide So Many NFL Games?
Look around the league. Games swing on single possessions all the time. Our breakdowns of the Eagles’ 14-point collapse and the Browns–Vikings London game show how thin the margins are.
It’s the same story in Super Bowl history. Super Bowl XLVII between Baltimore and San Francisco ended 34-31, as we covered in our Arthur Jones tribute.
A reliable kicker is like a good umbrella. You only appreciate it when it’s raining and the game is on the line.
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FAQs About Eddy Piñeiro
Who is Eddy Piñeiro?
Eddy Piñeiro is a Miami native and former Florida Gator who kicks for the San Francisco 49ers. He previously played for the Bears, Jets, and Panthers before joining San Francisco in 2025.
What was Piñeiro’s overtime game-winner?
On October 2, 2025, he drilled a 41-yard overtime field goal off the left upright, and San Francisco’s defense then stopped the Rams on fourth down to seal a 26-23 victory.
What is Piñeiro’s career field goal percentage?
Through 2025, he made 139 of 155 field goals, a career rate of 89.7 percent, which ranks second in NFL history among kickers with at least 100 made field goals.
How much is Eddy Piñeiro’s contract?
The 49ers signed the veteran kicker to a four-year, $17 million extension in March 2026, with a reported $10 million guaranteed, keeping him off the free-agent market before it opened.
Why did the 49ers sign Piñeiro in 2025?
They waived Jake Moody after Week 1 and signed Piñeiro, who then stabilized an inconsistent kicking spot by making 28 of 29 field goals and leading the NFL in accuracy.
Final Thoughts
Eddy Piñeiro is proof that a kicker can be a franchise piece. He went from undrafted free agent to journeyman to the most accurate kicker in the league. Along the way he gave San Francisco one of the gutsiest wins of the 2025 season, a 41-yarder that clipped the upright and went through. Now he has a four-year deal and a team that trusts him. As the 49ers chase close games this season, keep an eye on number 6 (confirm his jersey number before publishing). Sometimes the quietest player in the stadium makes the loudest noise.
