The 49ers didn’t ignore Matt Gay’s rough stretch with the Washington Commanders — they just don’t believe it defines him.

Speaking on KNBR 680 on Friday, general manager John Lynch explained why San Francisco moved quickly to sign the kicker, and why the team believes a fresh start can reset Gay’s confidence.

Lynch said the 49ers had tracked Gay for years, dating back to his Utah days with Mitch Wishnowsky and frequent matchups when Gay was with the Los Angeles Rams. That familiarity, combined with strong support from San Francisco’s special teams staff, made him stand out during their evaluation.

“We talked to the folks there whose opinion we trust, and they kind of did it reluctantly letting him go,” Lynch said. “We were happy to get him … it was a nice opportunity that a guy like Matt Gay, as accomplished as he has been throughout his career, was available.”

Gay arrives in San Francisco following a difficult stretch with the Commanders, who released him earlier this week after missing two field goals — including a potential game-winner from 56 yards — in a 16-13 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins last Sunday in Madrid, Spain. He also missed a 51-yarder earlier in the game. In 11 games this season, Gay made 13 of 19 field-goal attempts and went 4-of-9 from beyond 50 yards.

The 49ers are aware of Gay’s recent issues from long range, but Lynch pushed back on the idea that the struggles were tied to his physical ability.

“Usually, if a guy’s struggling from that distance, you say, ‘Does he not have the leg?’ That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Lynch stated.

Instead, the team believes Gay simply needs a reset. Twice, Lynch emphasised the need to let the kicker start fresh.

“Hopefully, a clean slate, we can wipe that clean,” Lynch explained. “A clean slate hopefully, can free his mind and let him know we have a ton of confidence.”

Lynch also said coach Kyle Shanahan won’t overhaul his approach despite the transition from Eddy Piñeiro, who earned the staff’s trust on deeper kicks but is sidelined with a Grade 1 hamstring injury.

“I don’t think Kyle will do that… Kyle’s a guy who throws people out there and he’ll be mindful and thoughtful,” Lynch said. “We had a lot of kickers to choose from and he won out, so that means we think highly of him.”

For the 49ers, Gay’s past production — not his recent slump — is the more accurate indicator of what he can be. Now they’re banking on that “clean slate” turning into a rebound in San Francisco.

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