Eddy Piñeiro Bio
Eddy Piñeiro Jr. is an American professional football placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 13, 1995, in Miami, Florida, Piñeiro played college football for the Florida Gators before signing with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Across his NFL career, he has also spent time with the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Football Team, New York Jets, and Carolina Panthers.
Standing 180 cm tall and weighing 86 kg, Piñeiro has built a reputation as one of the most accurate kickers in league history. As of the 2025 season, he ranks second in NFL career field goal percentage at 90.1%, trailing only Cameron Dicker. He is widely recognized as the first player of Nicaraguan descent to play in the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Early Life
Eddy Piñeiro Jr. was born on September 13, 1995, in Miami, Florida, to a Cuban father and a Nicaraguan mother. His father, Eddy Piñeiro 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 of the ASL/APSL. Growing up in a household steeped in soccer, Piñeiro naturally followed the same path as his father.
Piñeiro was a four-time All-Dade County selection in soccer during his youth, showcasing the leg strength and technical foundation that would later define his football career. Despite spending most of his athletic life on the pitch, he joined the Miami Sunset Senior High School football team as a senior, taking on extra-point and kickoff duties. That single season proved to be the turning point that redirected his sporting future toward football.
Piñeiro later attended ASA College, where he played soccer while exploring opportunities in football kicking. He is a Christian, and in 2017 he and his father received the Police Service Award from the Gainesville Police Department for helping a woman escape a domestic abuser. These early experiences shaped his character and sense of community before he transitioned fully into football.
Path to American Football
Piñeiro originally signed with Florida Atlantic on a soccer scholarship, but academic issues prevented him from enrolling. With no football scholarship available, he spent time at ASA College while his father encouraged him to try on football cleats and pads. In 2015, Piñeiro attended an open kicking combine at Alabama, where coach Nick Saban narrowed his scholarship offers down to Piñeiro and Chris Salek. Although Piñeiro verbally committed to Alabama, he ultimately chose to play at the University of Florida.
Florida special teams coordinator Marc Nudelberg was instrumental in recruiting Piñeiro to the Gators, where he played during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. During his final year at Florida, Piñeiro posted the best field goal percentage in the nation, converting 17 of 18 attempts for a 94.4% rate. His career conversion rate of 88.4% ranks first in school history among kickers with at least 35 attempts, and his streak of 16 consecutive made field goals to close the 2017 season tied Jeff Chandler for the second-longest streak in program history.
Eddy Piñeiro Career
Early Career (2018)
After only two college seasons, Piñeiro declared for the 2018 NFL draft. He went undrafted but signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2018. His initial stint in Oakland was short-lived, as he was placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2018, limiting his rookie exposure.
Chicago Bears Era (2019–2020)
On May 6, 2019, Piñeiro was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He entered a summer kicking competition held to replace Cody Parkey following the Bears’ famous “Double-Doink” playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Piñeiro won the job and made his first NFL field goal on a 38-yard kick in the 2019 season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Two weeks later, Piñeiro drilled a game-winning 53-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bears a 16–14 road victory over the Denver Broncos, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He finished the 2019 regular season converting 23 of 28 field goals and 27 of 29 extra points. After a groin injury kept him on injured reserve for the entire 2020 campaign, his time in Chicago came to a close.
Carolina Panthers Era (2022–2024)
After brief stops with the Indianapolis Colts, Washington Football Team, and New York Jets in 2021, Piñeiro signed with the Carolina Panthers on August 31, 2022, following an injury to Zane Gonzalez. He earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week during a Week 14 victory over the Seattle Seahawks and re-signed with the Panthers in March 2023. That season he booted a game-winning field goal in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, knocking them out of first place in the NFC South with a 9–7 final score.
On November 17, 2024, Piñeiro became the NFL’s all-time field goal percentage leader during the Panthers’ bye week, surpassing long-time leader Justin Tucker. His historic mark stood at 89.381% before later shifts in the rankings returned him to third place. He finished his Panthers tenure as one of the most accurate kickers in league history.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2025–Present)
On September 10, 2025, Piñeiro signed with the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year contract. He made his 49ers debut in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, converting both field goal attempts and two of three extra points. The following week against the Arizona Cardinals, he drilled a game-winning 35-yard field goal as time expired to secure a narrow 16–15 victory.
Against the Los Angeles Rams, Piñeiro made a career-long 59-yard field goal and a game-winning 41-yarder in overtime, again earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He later collected NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October after converting all 10 of his field goal attempts and all six extra point attempts. His early form with San Francisco quickly established him as a key late-game weapon.
Driving Style and Strengths
Piñeiro’s strengths center on accuracy from mid-to-long range, mental composure in pressure moments, and leg strength that produces 50-plus-yard attempts with consistency. His approach under head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers’ coaching staff has emphasized situational kicking, including late-game field goals and touchback-heavy kickoffs. His ability to convert from distance and deliver in clutch situations has been the hallmark of his 49ers tenure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Piñeiro’s signature moments include the 53-yard game-winner against the Denver Broncos in 2019 and his November 2024 ascent to the NFL’s all-time field goal percentage leader. In 2025, his 59-yard field goal against the Rams and three NFC Special Teams honors highlighted his arrival in San Francisco. Each milestone underscored his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable kickers.
Eddy Piñeiro Career Wins
Piñeiro’s career wins span multiple franchises and include several game-winning field goals in the closing seconds. From his debut Bears victory over the Broncos in 2019 to his overtime heroics against the Rams in 2025, his late-game successes have shaped outcomes across the league.
Chicago Bears Highlights
Piñeiro’s most celebrated Bears moment came on a 53-yard walk-off field goal against the Denver Broncos in 2019, capping a narrow 16–14 road win. He also converted a game-winning 22-yard field goal in the regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, sealing a 21–19 victory. Across the 2019 season, he made 23 of 28 field goal attempts, finishing as Chicago’s primary kicker.
Carolina Panthers Highlights
Piñeiro produced a 9–7 Week 15 upset over the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 with a late game-winning field goal that knocked Atlanta out of first place in the NFC South. He also earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a 30–24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. His accuracy during the Panthers tenure helped him climb to the top of the NFL’s all-time field goal percentage list in late 2024.
San Francisco 49ers Highlights
Since joining the 49ers, Piñeiro has delivered three game-winning or overtime-defining kicks, including a 35-yard walk-off against the Arizona Cardinals and a 41-yard overtime winner against the Los Angeles Rams. He has twice earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October 2025. His early production has positioned him as a long-term solution for the 49ers’ kicking game.
Eddy Piñeiro Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Piñeiro’s athletic roots trace back to his father, Eddy Piñeiro Sr., a Cuban-born former professional soccer player who played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the ASL/APSL after emigrating to the United States during the Mariel boatlift of 1980. His mother is of Nicaraguan descent, a heritage that has made Piñeiro a celebrated figure in Nicaraguan-American communities. Before the Bears’ October 2019 game in London, he was honored with a glass sculpture from Nicaragua’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Personal Life
Piñeiro is a Christian and has spoken publicly about the role faith plays in his career. In 2017, he and his father received the Police Service Award from the Gainesville Police Department for helping a woman escape a domestic abuser. He is also recognized as the first player of Nicaraguan descent to play in the NFL, a milestone that carries personal significance for his family.
2025 Season Performance
Piñeiro’s 2025 campaign began with a one-year contract signing with the San Francisco 49ers on September 10. He made an immediate impact, converting all field goal attempts in his 49ers debut against the New Orleans Saints and delivering a game-winning 35-yarder against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. His early accuracy established him as a reliable scoring option within San Francisco’s offense.
Against the Los Angeles Rams, Piñeiro booted a career-long 59-yard field goal and a game-winning 41-yard overtime kick, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the second time in 2025. He followed that performance with another perfect outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a strong showing against the Atlanta Falcons, capping October with NFC Special Teams Player of the Month recognition. Through the early portion of the season, he has converted every field goal attempt, reinforcing his standing among the league’s elite kickers.
With a contract running through 2026, Piñeiro’s outlook in San Francisco centers on maintaining historic accuracy while serving as a primary scoring weapon in close contests. His 90.1% career field goal percentage keeps him in elite company, and his clutch production has quickly earned the trust of the 49ers’ coaching staff. As the 2025 season progresses, his role in shaping tight game outcomes remains central to San Francisco’s aspirations.