Jake Moody Shines for Chicago Bears Amid Hotel Challenges
Chicago Bears kicker Jake Moody emerged as a standout player during Monday Night Football, showcasing resilience after a challenging night at the team hotel.
Just hours before the game against the Washington Commanders on October 13, Moody, 25, was signed to the active roster due to Cairo Santos' right thigh injury. The pressure was on as he stepped onto the field.
With time running out, Moody successfully converted a 38-yard field goal, securing a thrilling victory for the Bears at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. His teammates celebrated by lifting him off the field, a moment of triumph following a less-than-ideal hotel experience.
“I like a big king bed,” Moody remarked post-game, reflecting on his discomfort with the smaller accommodations. “I like to sprawl out.”
Compounding his hotel woes was a perplexing shower situation. “I couldn’t get it to go in the middle,” he explained, noting that the water temperature fluctuated between extremes. “I took a nice ice shower before the game. That may be the new tradition I start.”
Moody began the season with the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, after a rocky start where he made only one of three field goal attempts in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, he was waived on September 9. He joined the Bears’ practice squad shortly thereafter on September 12.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson expressed confidence in Moody’s abilities. “I wasn’t surprised at all,” Johnson stated after the game. “We’ve seen him in practice now for a number of weeks. That’s one. And then, we also knew what he was capable of. He’s made big kicks in big games over the course of his career so far.”
Moody credited Santos for his support during the game. Santos traveled with the team despite his injury and provided valuable insights about the stadium conditions. “Very, very glad that we did travel with him,” Moody said. “He kicked here a fair amount and he was able to kind of help me with the wind, with the field surface, all that stuff.”
The Bears have yet to announce whether Moody or Santos will take on kicking duties when they face off against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 19.
