Eddy Piñeiro Jr. Bio
Eddy Piñeiro Jr. is an American professional football placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Piñeiro has also been a member of the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Football Team, New York Jets, and Carolina Panthers. He is currently second in NFL career field goal percentage at 90.1%, behind only Cameron Dicker.
Early Life and Background
Eddy Piñeiro was born on September 13, 1995, in Miami, Florida, to a Cuban father and Nicaraguan mother. His father, Eddy Sr., moved to the United States from Cuba at age nine during the Mariel boatlift of 1980 and later had a professional soccer career with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Growing up, Piñeiro started off playing soccer like his father and was a four-time All-Dade County pick in soccer. Despite having grown up only playing soccer, he joined the Miami Sunset Senior High School football team as a senior, handling extra points and kickoffs. Piñeiro attended Miami Sunset High School, where he began to explore football. His transition from soccer to football was encouraged by his father, who suggested he try on football cleats and pads. Although initially without a football scholarship, Piñeiro played soccer for a small junior college, ASA College, before eventually trying out for the University of Florida. He played for the Gators during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, where he achieved notable success.
Path to American Football
After his time at ASA College, Piñeiro attended an open kicking combine at Alabama. Out of hundreds of kickers, Alabama coach Nick Saban narrowed his scholarship offers to Chris Salek and Piñeiro. Although Piñeiro verbally committed to Alabama, he later tried out for Florida and ultimately chose to play there. Special Teams Coordinator Marc Nudelberg was instrumental in recruiting him to the University of Florida. During his final year at Florida, Piñeiro had the best field goal percentage in the nation, making 17 out of 18 attempts for a 94.4% conversion rate. His career conversion rate of 88.4% ranks first in school history for players with a minimum of 35 attempts. Piñeiro declared for the 2018 NFL draft after only two seasons with the Gators. He signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2018, marking the beginning of his professional career.
Eddy Piñeiro Jr. Career
Early Career (2018)
Eddy Piñeiro’s professional career began with the Oakland Raiders, where he was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2018. He was later traded to the Chicago Bears on May 6, 2019, in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Piñeiro participated in the Bears’ 2019 summer kicking competition to replace Cody Parkey, who had missed a critical game-winning field goal in the previous playoffs. During the 2019 preseason, Piñeiro connected on eight of nine field goals and three of four extra points. He made his first NFL field goal during the season-opener against the Green Bay Packers, which ended up being the only points the Bears scored in a 10–3 loss. He gained recognition for his performance, kicking a game-winning 53-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos, which earned him the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.
Breakthrough (2019-2020)
Piñeiro’s breakthrough came during his first season with the Chicago Bears. He finished the 2019 season converting 23 of 28 field goals and 27 of 29 extra points. His performance solidified his position as the team’s kicker for the following season. However, injuries plagued him in 2020, leading to him being placed on injured reserve and missing the entire season. After his time with the Bears, Piñeiro signed with the Indianapolis Colts on May 17, 2021, but was waived shortly after. He then had brief stints with the Washington Football Team and the New York Jets, where he performed well, going 8-for-8 on field goals and 9-for-10 on extra points.
Notable Works and Milestones
Piñeiro’s signature work includes his performance with the Carolina Panthers, where he re-signed on March 23, 2023. He scored a game-winning field goal in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, knocking them out of first place in the NFC South. On November 17, 2024, he became the NFL’s all-time field goal percentage leader, achieving a remarkable milestone in his career.
Eddy Piñeiro Jr. Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Eddy Piñeiro has received several notable nominations, including the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in 2025 for his outstanding performances.
Eddy Piñeiro Jr. Awards Won
Eddy Piñeiro has won several awards during his career, including the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in 2025 for his exceptional kicking performance.
Eddy Piñeiro Jr. Family
Information regarding Eddy Piñeiro’s family is limited. He is known to have a supportive family background, with his father being a Cuban immigrant who had a professional soccer career.
Personal Life
Eddy Piñeiro is a Christian. In 2017, he and his father were awarded the Police Service Award from the Gainesville Police Department for helping a woman escape from a domestic abuser. He is also recognized as the first player of Nicaraguan descent to play in the NFL, highlighting his unique heritage in the sport.
