Was Jake Moody Fired? Not Exactly — Here’s What Really Went Down

People keep Googling “Was Jake Moody fired?” so let’s clear that up right away: No, he wasn’t technically fired. Not by the 49ers. Not by the Bears. But the internet loves to jump to conclusions, especially when a player suddenly disappears from a lineup.

So where did this rumor come from?

Last year with the 49ers, Moody dealt with a shaky stretch — some misses, an ankle thing, and suddenly headlines started saying things like “49ers make changes at kicker.” And you know how Twitter is. One unclear report turns into “Moody was cut” and the next thing you know people treat it like fact.

Fast forward to Monday night against Washington — Chicago calls him up to fill in for an injured Cairo Santos. Most backup kickers just try to not screw up.

Jake Moody decided to take the job interview and turn it into a highlight reel.

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The Washington Game That Flipped the Narrative

Let’s lay it out. Moody’s stat line:

• 4-for-5 on field goals

• Only miss was a block, not a shank

• 38-yard walk-off winner as time expired

That last one? Cold-blooded. He didn’t just fill in. He stole the moment.

One fan summed it up perfectly online:

“Dude went from ‘Is Jake Moody fired?’ to ‘Is Jake Moody our new kicker?’ in three hours.”

Exactly.

 

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So Why Do People Think He Was Fired?

Because in the NFL, roster moves get worded like legal documents. “Waived,” “deactivated,” “practice squad elevation” — most fans don’t read past the first sentence. If a guy’s name isn’t on the team sheet that week, everyone assumes he’s gone.

But Moody wasn’t dumped. He was just in limbo. The 49ers moved on without formally cutting him loose. Chicago grabbed him before anyone else did.

And now? He’s forced his way back into the conversation.

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Could He Actually Take Cairo Santos’ Job?

This is where things get spicy.

Cairo Santos has been reliable for the Bears. No disrespect there. But the NFL is brutal when it comes to momentum. When one guy nails multiple 40+ yard kicks and hits a clutch winner on national TV… fans start talking.

Here’s how the situation really looks: