The San Francisco 49ers have secured kicker Eddy Pineiro with a four-year contract worth $17 million, including $10 million guaranteed, ensuring his place in the Bay Area moving forward. This marks the first long-term deal of Pineiro’s professional career and comes after a strong 2025 season where he converted 28 of 29 field goal attempts.
Details on Pineiro’s New Contract and Team Moves
The contract extension reflects the 49ers’ confidence in Pineiro as a key special teams contributor. Following the announcement, Pineiro expressed his gratitude on Instagram:
“First and foremost, all glory to God. None of this is possible without Him. I’m incredibly thankful to the coaches and the entire organization for believing in me and trusting me to continue this journey with you. Signing this contract Means the world to me and my family To the fans — thank you for the constant support and love. The work continues.”
Pineiro is the second prominent special teams member the 49ers have locked up prior to free agency. Earlier in the week, Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Weeks, who joined the team from the Houston Texans in 2025, agreed to a one-year extension. Attention is now turning to punter Thomas Morestead, who is approaching free agency and will celebrate his 40th birthday soon.
A Look Back at Eddy Pineiro’s NFL Journey Before the 49ers
Originally undrafted out of Florida in 2018, Pineiro first signed with the Oakland Raiders as a potential replacement for Sebastian Janikowski, but an injury prevented him from appearing in any games. He was traded to the Chicago Bears the following year, where he successfully made 23 field goals and 27 extra points before a groin injury in 2020 allowed Cairo Santos to take his place.
After going unsigned for most of 2021, Pineiro joined the New York Jets late in the year, impressively making all eight of his field goal attempts and missing only one extra point. The Jets tendered him as a restricted free agent in 2022, but he was released during the preseason in favor of Greg Zuerlein. Shortly afterward, Pineiro signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he stayed until 2024, marking his first multi-season tenure with a single team.
Implications of the Extension for the 49ers’ Future
By committing to Eddy Pineiro through 2029, the 49ers have addressed a critical role within their special teams unit, adding stability to their kicking game as they aim for playoff success. This move provides confidence heading into free agency and signals the organization’s intent to build around core contributors like Pineiro and Weeks. How the team handles the punter position and other off-season decisions will significantly affect their roster balance for the upcoming seasons.
