Bounce back, or you’re out! Imagine: A player on the cusp of greatness, fighting for a position on a team that is in the running for the Super Bowl. The last thing he would want is his coach talking about ‘competition.’ That’s basically code for: “Start packing your bags.” And if you’re on the 49ers, that’s precisely what’s in the air.

Even though Jim Harbaugh has tried his hardest to play defense for his former Michigan player, the 49ers front office isn’t exactly giving him a soft ride. Kyle Shanahan has made it very clear that a veteran kicker will be joining the team after the draft. And for Jake Moody, that means one thing: his job is officially on the line.

And the harsh reality? Moody’s 2024 season was a complete bust. An ankle injury in Week 5 ruined everything after a good start. He has missed just one field goal prior to the injury. Following the injury? One missed extra point and nine missed field goals. When Deebo Samuel, who never holds back, was spotted chatting with Moody after the kicker missed three field goals in his first game back in Week 10, it all came to a head.

Jim Harbaugh, who was Moody’s coach at Michigan, is now attempting to remind everyone of the 49ers’ original motivation for selecting him. “I’ve witnessed him miss a few, then return and make 16, 17 straight,” Harbaugh remarked, highlighting Moody’s resilience. He also brought up Michigan’s 2020 campaign, in which Moody made 23 of his next 25 attempts after missing three consecutive kicks.

But why did the Niners choose Jake Moody in the first place? Raising suspicions, the 49ers selected Moody in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. That early of a kicker? San Francisco, however, needed a huge leg, so they hatched a plan. Early on, Moody demonstrated his range by making a 55-yard field goal against the Chiefs, which set a Super Bowl record. The 49ers had hoped for a clutch kick like that.

His 2024 season, however, was a different tale. He was reliable at Levi’s Stadium, making 15 of 17 kicks, with both misses occurring from more than 50 yards out. But on the road? Catastrophe. Just 52.9% of his efforts were successful, including a terrible 3-for-11 from 40 yards or more. But Jake Moody might be ready for a comeback in 2025. The real question? Will the 49ers even give him that chance? Because Kyle Shanahan is hinting at something completely different.

Kyle Shanahan is cooking something up

Kyle Shanahan had been quiet for months. However, he broke his quiet at the NFL’s annual owners’ meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.

He discussed the team’s current situation, including Christian McCaffrey‘s health and their unsuccessful last-minute attempt to retain Dre Greenlaw, who picked Denver over San Francisco in spite of Shanahan and general manager John Lynch’s spectacular recruiting trip. But the most obvious lesson? Officially, Jake Moody’s employment is in doubt. “It’s not like we cleaned everybody out. We still have big-time players,” Shanahan said, trying to soften the blow of an offseason that saw eight starters and 19 total players walk away. That “recalibration” is happening fast, and Moody is right in the middle of it.

Now, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Shanahan has confirmed: “The 49ers plan to bring in a veteran kicker after the draft to compete with Jake Moody, coach Kyle Shanahan said.” And let’s face it, this goes beyond simple “competition.” It has to do with contingencies. If Moody does not take over right away, the 49ers will be prepared to make a change.

Shanahan stated unequivocally that the 49ers will not hesitate to let Moody go since his leash is short. “You do feel that pressure when your job is on the line, competing against someone who is talented,” he remarked. “It will demonstrate to us that he is capable for the season if you can get past that and defeat a competent player.” Translation? You’re out of camp if you mess up.

And the 49ers can move on from Moody with little financial harm. They would save more than $1 million in cap space for 2025 and 2026 if they cut him, saving them only $650,000 in dead money over two seasons. Shanahan has also had to cope with high-profile uncertainty before. He admitted that after losing important components, clubs like the 2023 Rams and 2024 Bills had recovered well. The 49ers are trying to do the same—except they don’t have time to wait.

For a kicker who is already barely hanging on, Shanahan and the 49ers are leaving their options open, which is bad news. Moody may be kicking for his NFL future in addition to his job.