SANTA CLARA — Matt Homosexual is the one participant within the NFL to kick the 49ers out of the Tremendous Bowl and lose his job to Jake Moody.
Homosexual, signed to the 49ers’ follow squad Wednesday, will take over for Eddy Piñeiro when the 49ers (7-4) host the Carolina Panthers (6-5) Monday night time (ESPN, 5:15 p.m.) as each groups look to remain within the playoff race in Week 12.
He has no illusions about preserving the job long-term.
“Kickers are a fraternity,” Homosexual mentioned Thursday. “You keep in touch with guys, you follow their career. Seeing (Eddy) and talking to him, it’s been great to catch up. He’s had a great year here . . . God has plans. He’s blessed me with an opportunity to come here and kick for however many games that may be until Eddy’s back.”
Homosexual, 31, has skilled the highs and lows that include the job since turning into a fifth-round draft select of Utah in 2018 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He received the Lou Groza Award as the school soccer’s prime place kicker in 2017.
His professional debut was towards the 49ers in 2019 however was lower in coaching camp the next yr and spent a part of 2020 on the follow squad of the Indianapolis Colts earlier than being signed by the Rams. He had one of the best yr of his profession in 2021, changing 32 of 34 area objective makes an attempt as Los Angeles received the NFC West and went on to win the Tremendous Bowl towards the Cincinnati Bengals.
The 49ers, on the energy of wins over Inexperienced Bay and Dallas, superior to the NFC Championship Recreation in Los Angeles. Though they beat the Rams twice within the common season, the wild-card 49ers misplaced 20-17 within the title recreation.
Trailing 17-7, the Rams obtained inside 17-14 after which went forward on 40- and 34-yard area targets by Homosexual to win the championship. Homosexual additionally had a 41-yard area objective in a 23-20 win over Cincinnati within the Tremendous Bowl.
“Shhh . . . keep it down,” Homosexual mentioned in jest. “It’s crazy, all right? You’re in L.A. and we’re rivals for so long and used to playing against them. Now you’re on their team. It’s different to look back a couple of years ago, playing that game and kicking them out. Now I’m Team 49ers. I’m wearing the red jersey and just want to do what I can do to help this team win.”
Homosexual’s nomadic existence didn’t cease there. Indianapolis signed Homosexual to a restricted free agent contract (4 years, $22.5 million most) that was the biggest for a spot kicker on the time. He was the primary kicker to ever kick 4 area targets of fifty or extra yards in the identical recreation, hitting from 54, 53, 53 and 53 yards for Indianapolis in 2023 and stayed there by 2024, when he was launched.
Subsequent up was Washington, however Homosexual struggled. He was 13-for-19 and after misses from 51 and 56 yards in a 16-13 extra time loss to Miami in Madrid, Spain. Nonetheless, Homosexual was stunned as he was on his manner dwelling to Utah to decompress through the Commanders’ bye week.
“I was headed home, got a call at the airport, so it was kind of abrupt,” Homosexual mentioned. “I didn’t really see it coming.”
The kicker?
Washington signed Moody — Public Enemy No. 1 by the 49ers’ fan base till he was launched in favor of Piñeiro — to take Homosexual’s place. Homosexual received the 49ers’ job in a tryout that additionally included Anders Carlson, John Parker Romo, Tanner Brown and Cade York.
Matt Homosexual (16) of Washington reacts after lacking his final area objective try with the Commanders from 56 yards out in a 16-13 extra time loss two Miami in Madrid, Spain. AP Photograph
Homosexual was signed to the follow squad, however will probably be a normal promotion for the sport towards the Panthers Monday night time. If vital, he can keep on the follow squad and be activated 3 times for video games earlier than he have to be on the 53-man roster.
Requested what was the figuring out issue, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned, “His experience. He’s had a lot of success in this league and looked real good during our workout.”
Piñeiro rapidly grew to become a favourite of followers and gamers, in small half due to his exuberant character however largely as a result of he was 22-for-22 on area objective makes an attempt, together with 6-for-6 from 50 yards and past. He was so good kicking area targets and was such a consider successful video games it was simple to miss an 18-for-22 charge (two of which have been blocked) on point-after-touchdown alternatives.
Homosexual was nonetheless getting his bearings after flying dwelling from Madrid to Utah, after which Utah to the Bay Space and mentioned he’s comfy at Levi’s, the place in Rams’ regular-season losses in 2021 and 2022, he transformed reasonably distanced area objective makes an attempt of 37, 39, 29 and 26 yards with out a miss.
“There’s definitely a swirling wind that happens at Levi’s and I’ve been fortunate enough to play here a couple of times, so I’ve been able to figure it out,” Homosexual mentioned. “I think the best teacher is other people — you watch Robbie Gould, who kicked here for a long time, and he figured the stadium out. But kicking is kicking and you get there on game day and figure it out.”
It’s been a whirlwind since leaving Spain, discovering out he didn’t have a job after which discovering one other one.
“It’s been a lot of travel but I’m blessed and grateful to have this opportunity,” Homosexual mentioned. “The uprights are the same wherever you go. I’ve kicked a lot of balls, feel comfortable with myself going out there and being able to perform. It helps when you’ve got a veteran group like (long-snapper) Jon Weeks and (holder) Thomas Morstead, who are established with the operation. I’ve kicked in that stadium before and I feel good coming in.”
