One of the most intriguing battles heading into San Francisco 49ers training camp is the kicker competition between Jake Moody and NFL veteran Greg Joseph.
Moody, a third-round pick in 2023, is coming off a rocky sophomore NFL season in which he missed 10 field goal attempts and one extra point—mistakes that frustrated fans and cast doubt on his long-term reliability.
Greg Joseph, while a new face to 49ers fans, has quietly earned support simply by being the alternative. Many fans appear ready to move on from Moody, even if they're not overly familiar with Joseph's track record.
But the 49ers aren't giving up on Moody just yet. Entering his third NFL season, Moody still has the support (at least, publicly) of head coach Kyle Shanahan, who has spoken about the dangers of pulling the plug too early on young kickers, a decision that has haunted him in the past.
This offseason, the team overhauled its special teams unit. New coordinator Brant Boyer was brought in, and the 49ers also introduced a new long snapper and punter/holder to help with the reset.
Yet, Moody remains on the roster—and that may not change anytime soon.
NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco believes fans should prepare for Moody to be the 49ers' Week 1 kicker.
"I think Jake Moody would have to, I don't know necessarily implode, but he would just have to give off the bad vibes that they would feel like it's necessary to move on," Maiocco said during a recent appearance on Bay Area radio station KNBR.
He views Boyer's arrival as a clean slate for Moody, who has spent the offseason adjusting his kicking mechanics. Moody is transitioning from a three-step to a two-step approach on field goals, an effort to improve accuracy and consistency.
Maiocco also noted that the final decision will likely be in Boyer's hands and won't come until after both kickers are thoroughly tested in preseason action.
"I think that, in a lot of ways, it has given Jake Moody a new lease on life with the 49ers," Maiocco added. "And I do think that he is—maybe not the overwhelming favorite—but certainly the clear favorite to win that job."
Maiocco added: "The other part is, if Jake Moody, if he struggles (during the season), Greg Joseph isn't going anywhere. ... My guess is they give Moody a chance to open the regular season, and then, where it goes from there remains to be seen."
You can listen to Maiocco's entire interview below.
