In a nail-biting overtime clash at SoFi Stadium, San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Piñeiro once again proved his mettle, nailing a 41-yard field goal that ricocheted off the left upright before dropping through for the game-winner. The 26-23 triumph over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night marked Piñeiro's second division-rival heroics in as many weeks, breathing new life into a 49ers squad battered by injuries.
Piñeiro, who joined the team just last month on a one-year deal, has wasted no time silencing doubters. Signed after the Niners waived third-round pick Jake Moody amid early-season struggles, the 29-year-old Miami native has gone a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals this season. Indeed, his 35-yard boot against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3 already had fans buzzing; now this quirky doink has cemented his status as the steady leg San Francisco desperately needed.
However, Piñeiro's path to the Bay Area wasn't straightforward. A journeyman with stints at the Bears, Jets, Colts, and Panthers, he's appeared in 70 games over five NFL seasons. His career field-goal percentage sits at an elite 88.5 percent—third-best all-time—yet he's bounced around, often overlooked for flashier names. From a soccer-playing family with Cuban and Nicaraguan roots, Piñeiro ditched the pitch for pigskin in high school, a choice that's paying off now amid the 49ers' turbulent kicking woes.
Moreover, Thursday's kick wasn't just clutch; it highlighted a defense that stepped up big, with rookies making key stops to force overtime. Piñeiro's calm under pressure contrasts sharply with Moody's inconsistencies, though questions linger about long-term reliability for a team chasing playoffs.
Indeed, as the 49ers regroup for their next matchup, Piñeiro's hot streak raises hopes—but in the unforgiving NFC West, one wonders how long this fairy tale holds.