The Washington Commanders have a new kicker. Earlier on Monday, the Commanders released kicker Matt Gay after he missed two field goals in Sunday’s 16-13 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins, including the potential game-winner. Washington didn’t wait long to find Gay’s replacement, signing Jake Moody off the Chicago Bears‘ practice squad.
Moody is probably a familiar name to most Commanders‘ fans. He was Chicago’s kicker in the Week 6 game that the Bears won late after Jayden Daniels’ fumble. Moody made four of five field goals in Week 6, including the 38-yard game-winning kick as time expired. During his time with Chicago, Moody served as the Bears’ kicker for two games, making 8 of 9 attempts, with a long of 48 yards. He began the season with the 49ers, but was cut after Week 1, when he missed two field goals. Moody made all five of his point after attempts.
Moody entered the league as a third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2023 NFL draft. Washington general manager Adam Peters was the 49ers’ assistant GM when San Francisco selected Moody. He struggled in three+ seasons with the 49ers. After making 21 of 25 as a rookie, Moody was 24 of 34 in 2024. The Niners brought him back in 2025, but cut him after only one game.
Before the NFL, Moody was an All-American kicker for the Michigan Wolverines. He won the Lou Groza Award in 2021, given annually to the nation’s top kicker.
Washington signed Gay to a one-year deal in March for the largest guarantee on a one-year deal for a kicker in NFL history. Unfortunately, Gay struggled with consistency, making 13 of 19 field goals this season.
The Commanders are off this week and host the red-hot Denver Broncos in Week 13.