Updated March 7, 2026, 4:28 p.m. PT
Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers signed kicker Eddy Piñeiro to a four-year, $17 million deal. Making him one of the highest paid kickers in the league and keeping him in the Bay Area where his NFL career began — with the Oakland Raiders.
The veteran kicker was signed early last season to replace former 49ers draft pick Jake Moody. Piñeiro hit and NFL leading 96.6% of his field goals, including six of seven from outside 50 yards to earn the long term commitment in San Francisco.
Some of you might remember, there was a time when Eddy Piñeiro was in line to be the Raiders next kicker. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2018 out of Florida and had a great camp and preseason. But an injury landed him on injured reserve and the Raiders signed Mike Nugent to replace him.
After three games, Nugent too landed on injured reserve, so they signed Matthew McCrane. McCrane lasted three games, missing a field goal in each game, including two from inside 50 yards. By that time, fifth round rookie Daniel Carlson was ready to sign with another team. The Raiders brought him in and he’s been their kicker ever since.
Carlson got his head on straight in the ten games with the Raiders as a rookie and the following offseason, the Raiders were able to trade Piñeiro to the Chicago Bears for a conditional seventh round pick.
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Now, eight years later and things have come full circle. Piñero is back in the Bay Area, making, as it happens, just about what Carlson was making per season on his last extension, while the Raiders are ready to move on from Carlson. Funny how these things go sometimes.