A fresh start might have been all that Jake Moody needed. The embattled kicker was the hero for the Bears on Monday night, when they needed him the most.
With three seconds to go, Moody drilled a 38-yard field goal to give the Bears a 25-24 win over the Commanders in Washington. It was the site where the Bears crumbled nearly one year ago, sending their 2024 season into a tailspin. And it was just over a month since Moody himself stumbled and got cut by the 49ers.
"It feels amazing to get all that support after the game from all my teammates," Moody told Lisa Salters after the game on the ESPN broadcast. "You know I got here not too long ago, but for everyone to embrace me and take me in as one of their own, it’s an amazing feeling."
Ben Johnson shared his thoughts on his backup kicker winning the game for Chicago
That support includes trust from head coach Ben Johnson. Moody hit three field goals earlier in the night from 41, 47, and 48 yards. But his fourth try-- another 48-yarder-- was blocked.
So with the Bears controlling the clock and marching down the field in the late stages of the game, it would have been reasonable for Johnson to ask his offense to try to score a touchdown with as little time left on the clock as possible. He put the game in Moody's hands instead, and opted to run down the clock once the Bears got the kick to 38 yards.
It was probably the most nerve-wracking 38-yarder for Bears fans in recent memory, but Ben Johnson told reporters after the game that he wasn't surprised at all with the outcome.
"We've seen him in practice now for a couple of weeks," Johnson said. "We also know what he's capable of. He's made big kicks in big games over the course of his career, so far."
The 49ers drafted Moody with the No. 99 overall pick back in 2023, and he had a great rookie season to start his career. He hit 84% of his field goals with a long of 57 yards, and led the league with 60 extra points on 61 tries. But he took a step back in 2024 when he only made 70.6% of his field goals. The 49ers cut him after Week 1 this year when he missed 2-3 of his field goal attempts.
And those "big kicks in big games" that Johnson alluded to: Moody hit 3-3 field goals in the Super Bowl at the end of his rookie season, including makes from 53 and 55 yards.
"I think that's who he is and I think that change of scenery was really good for him," Johnson said.
What made Monday night's performance even more impressive was that Moody may not have known he was in line to kick when he woke up Monday morning.Starting Bears kicker Cairo Santos was listed on the injury report with a quadriceps injury, but he managed to practice in full all week. The Bears only elevated Moody from the practice squad to the active roster hours before the game.
After the game, Moody shouted out long snapper Scott Daly and holder Tory Taylor for helping him with their smooth operation, and thanked the offensive line for solid blocking in front of him.
"Can’t draw it up any better," Moody told Salters.
But he also expressed confidence, despite his recent hiccups.
"I always believed in myself."
Even after his previous 48-yard attempt was blocked.
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"I like to say you’re only as good as your next kick, so you can’t dwell on the past. You’ve got to move on and focus on the next kick."