Jake Moody heard it from frustrated fans last season, but it sounds as if the San Francisco 49ers’ embattled kicker now has a fan in an influential position
New special teams coordinator Brant Boyer hailed Moody’s ability Thursday and attributed much of his struggles in 2024 to the high ankle sprain he suffered in October. Boyer, who spoke with the media for the first time since he was hired in January, indicated he was wowed by Moody before the 49ers selected him in the third round in 2023, making him the NFL’s highest-drafted kicker in seven years.
“There isn’t a special-teams coach in this league that didn’t have him rated No. 1 coming out, that I know of,” said Boyer, the Jets special-teams coordinator from 2016-24. “He’s as talented a kid as it gets. I think the injury issue … I think that had a lot to do with it.”
Moody ranked 32nd in the NFL in field goal percentage (70.6) last year, but most of his misses came after he returned from his ankle injury following a three-game absence. Before he was injured in Week 5, Moody made 13 of 14 attempts, including 5 of 6 from 40-plus yards. In nine games after he returned, Moody made 11 of 20 attempts and was 5-for-14 from 40-plus yards.
Boyer suggested Moody does need to prove his confidence has been restored after his forgettable finish. After Moody missed two field goals and an extra point in a prime-time loss to the Lions in Week 17, he termed it perhaps the lowest point in his football career.
“I think if the kid gets his mind right, which I think he’s doing a hell of a job for us so far — I think he’ll do a heck of a job for us,” Boyer said. “I really do.”
Still, the 49ers are covering their bases in case Moody doesn’t bounce back.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has said they plan to sign a veteran kicker this offseason to provide competition for Moody. First, however, the 49ers invited Louisiana’s Kenneth Almendares to this week’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. Last year Almendares won the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s top college kicker.
Boyer was asked whether he expects Moody to keep his job.
“It all comes down to what happens in the preseason and everything,” he said. “It’s like any other position.”
Slippers statement: Say this for rookie linebacker Nick Martin: The kid feels comfortable in his own skin.
The third-round round pick arrived at the team facility for the first time to report for rookie minicamp wearing oversized shark slippers. Martin said he enjoys expressing himself through fashion and has a large collection of animal slippers. He sported wolf slippers last year for Big 12 Media Day.
“I’m pretty comfortable with who I am,” Martin said when asked about his first-day look. “I’ve always worn them, so I don’t know why I would change them. They got me here. The sharks got me here. The puppies got me here.”
#49ers rookie LB Nick Martin said he enjoys expressing himself through fashion. His wardrobe includes a large collection of animal slippers. pic.twitter.com/66LtIdEiax
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) May 8, 2025
Rookie defensive tackle C.J. West met Martin on Thursday at San Jose International Airport.
“I was like, ‘Who is this guy in these giant shark slippers?’” West said. “You can tell he will have a lot of character.”
Does West want his own industrial-sized animal slippers?
“That’s going to be his thing,” West said, smiling. “I’ll let that be his swag. I’ll rock my own thing.”
Purdy and improvement: Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said quarterback Brock Purdy’s quest for improvement includes plenty of honest self-assessment and a willingness to accept frank feedback.
Purdy, who ranked fourth in the NFL MVP voting in 2023, ranked 13th in the NFL in passer rating last season and had the 11th-highest interception percentage.
“He’s a great student of himself,” Kubiak said. “He wants to study himself and he wants to see where he can improve. He wants to be told the truth about what we think about how he can improve.”