The Washington Commanders have a lot of holes to fill in all 3 phases of the game — they made a quick decision to stem the bleeding on special teams on Friday by making sure they have a kicker they know they can rely on in 2026.
“The Commanders are re-signing kicker Jake Moody to a one-year deal, per source,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account on Friday.
“Sources: The Commanders are re-signing kicker Jake Moody,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on X. “He went 18/20 last year, including 2/2 from 50+.”
Just a few days earlier, it seemed like the Commanders were on a path to getting a new kicker — something that very well might still happen if Moody doesn’t perform.
“Sources: The Commanders are not planning to tender K Jake Moody as an RFA,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “He will become a free agent. The 26-year-old was 18/20 on FGs last year during his time in Chicago and Washington, including 2/2 from 50+, with a long of 56.”
OT Loss Led to Commanders Seeking New Kicker
The Commanders moved quickly to replace kicker Matt Gay after a terrible performance in a Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, Spain, by signing Moody, a former 3rd round pick, off the Chicago Bears practice squad on November 17.
Against the Dolphins, Gay missed a 56-yard field goal attempt with 10 seconds left, which would have won the game for the Commanders.
It was part of a promising season come undone for the Commanders, who went 5-12 and were eliminated from the postseason by Week 14 after going 12-5 and making the NFC Championship Game in 2024.
Commanders fans were already familiar with Moody. He set the Bears franchise record for a kicker’s 1st game with 4 field goals in a 25-24 win over the Commanders in Week 6, including a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired.
“Chicago Bears kicker Jake Moody’s signature moment of the 2025 season came against the Washington Commanders back in October,” Bears Wire’s Brandon Sugrue wrote after Moody signed. “Now, he gets the opportunity to become their starting kicker for the rest of the season.”
Jake Moody Rare Kicker as Early-Round Pick
Moody was the rare early-round draft pick for a kicker, with the San Francisco 49ers taking him in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Michigan.
The low point of Moody’s career occurred with the 49ers and had to do with current Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel — another free agent in 2026. Samuel made the unwise decision to confront Moody during a 2024 regular-season game following some missed kicks.
Moody was eventually waived by the 49ers in September 2025.
“Samuel’s frustration with his and the team’s struggles boiled over a couple of times in 2024,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote in March 2025. “In a November win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Samuel confronted kicker Jake Moody after his third missed field goal of the game. When long snapper Taybor Pepper stepped in to defend Moody, it led to a back-and-forth with some small shoves before the sides were separated.”
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