For all intents and purposes, Jake Moody bounce-back storyline began with his game-winning kick that led the Chicago Bears to a victory against the Washington Commanders.
I suppose that it technically began on Sept. 12, which is when he signed on to join the Bears’ practice squad. Moody’s signing happened three days after he was cut by the San Francisco 49ers. Nearly one month after signing with the team, Moody began the day not knowing he would play. Hours later, Bears fans have Moody as a folk hero of sorts. You really can’t script the NFL.
But where will this story go next? Will the next chapter be written in Chicago? Or will another team swoop in and snag the practice squad standout who nailed four kicks in his debut with the Bears? The story is still unwritten as of now, but I am looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
MORE ON THE BEARS MNF WIN: Game Recap | Instant Grades | The Nightcap
For now, Jake Moody is set to return to the Bears practice squad. It is the normal operating procedure for players who get elevated on game day to revert to practice squad status. However, I can’t stop thinking about how Moody’s Week 6 heroics could have sparked interest from a kicker-needy team that could be waiting in the weeds. But before we dive into that stuff, let’s enjoy this for what it is — a fun story that has helepd Chicago’s football team go on a three-game winning streak:
The Bears game winner against the Commanders set to “Like a Prayer” pic.twitter.com/3lxrdilVoI
— DaWindyCity Productions (@dwcprodz) October 14, 2025MOODY! MOODY! MOODY! pic.twitter.com/fq7OC0vntS
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 14, 2025Victory Tuesday Mood pic.twitter.com/gakkEbauRX
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 14, 202599 years since the last time this happened pic.twitter.com/UbLx0hQcFU
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 14, 2025Did Jake Moody ignite a Chicago Bears kicking controversy?
If this scenario feels familiar to Bears fans, it might be because something similar played out in Chicago back in 2022.
On Oct. 1, 2022, kicker Cairo Santos showed up on the injury report after missing the team’s last two practices of the week due to personal reasons. That led the Bears to add Michael Badgley to their practice squad and immediately elevate him to the active roster to replace Santos. One day later, Badgley went 4-for-4 on field goals and scored all of the team’s points in a loss to the New York Giants. But one day after Badgley’s triumphant day with Chicago’s football team, Badgley was cut. Santos resumed his duties as the Bears’ top kicking option, a gig he has yet to relinquish.
But perhaps that is at risk of changing.
In his 24-Hour Rule post, Matt wonders if this is the last we’ve seen of Cairo Santos in a Bears uniform. I think it would be an overreaction to part ways with Santos after one Jake Moody performance, but I do not think it is out of the realm of possibilities.
If you’ll recall, it was an injury to Eddy Piñeiro in 2020 that opened the door for Santos to land this job in the first place. Santos getting the Wally Pipp treatment five years later would be an odd and unexpected way to close the loop on that front. Players lose jobs due to injuries often enough in the NFL, so it wouldn’t be unthinkable that it could happen at the kicker spot with Cairo Santos losing his job to Jake Moody.
Oct 13, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears kicker Jake Moody (16) runs off the field holding the game ball after making the game winning kick as time expired against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesFor what it’s worth, the Bears could create $3.2 million in cap space (h/t OverTheCap) if they cut Cairo Santos this season. It would cost them $1.060 million in dead money, which is a small cost of doing business. Given the team’s future cap situation, saving a few million now could be helpful down the line.
Ultimately, I feel as if the most realistic outcome here is that Santos and the Bears part ways next offseason when they can still save $3.2 million in cap space — but do so while dealing with a more palatable dead money hit of $560,000. Perhaps, if the Bears really wanted to get creative, they would find a trade partner among the NFL’s contenders who would be willing to send a draft pick Chicago’s way so they could upgrade their kicking position. That would be one way to open up a spot to see what Jake Moody can do as a full-timer after a change of scenery.
IS CAIRO SANTOS’ JOB SAFE AFTER THE JAKE MOODY SIGNING?
In the end, I am open to the idea of using the next 12 games as an audition for Jake Moody to be the Bears’ long-term kicking solution. I say long-term solution because it feels worth underscoring that Moody is eight years younger than Santos, which is something that might come into play for this front office should it debate the kicking situation. I just don’t know if a Bears team that voted Santos to be a captain this season would push him out the door because his practice squad replacement had one (1) good game.
However, this would be a far better plan to find a kicker than the offseason carnival we had to deal with in 2019. Entertaining? Sure. But it was also messy. I’d like to never have to re-live that again, so I am open to just about anything.
Oct 13, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; ; Chicago Bears kicker Jake Moody (16) kicks a game-winning field goal against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn ImagesHence then, the article about what s next for jake moody was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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