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The Chicago Bears have had issues filling the kicker position ever since they released Robbie Gould in 2016. The Bears have dealt with Connor Barth, Mike Nugent, Cairo Santos and Cody Parkey since Gould’s departure. And it’s seemed like Chicago would never find a worthy successor.
Eddy Pineiro, who the Bears signed in 2019, is gearing up for his second season, and he’s ready to be the long-term solution for Chicago.
Pineiro was brought over to the Bears in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2021 seventh-round pick. Pineiro was one of nine kickers in the Bears’ 2019 kicking competition to replace Parkey. After winning the job, the 24-year old finished the season completing 23-of-28 field goals and 27-of-29 extra points. Pineiro is entering the last year of his contract and will become a restricted free agent following 2020.
“It would mean a lot to me and my family to stay in Chicago,” Pineiro told Bears Wire. “I want to be a Bear for a long time and be a part of the history and join the good kickers they have had, too.”
After battling the competition last year, Pineiro won’t see any of that this season. Last Tuesday, the Bears waived former Nevada kicker Ramiz Ahmed due to the new NFL rule limiting each team to an 80-man roster, which leaves Pineiro as the only kicker on their roster.
“Things have been a lot different due to the coronavirus, but I’m preparing like it was just any other season,” Pineiro said. “Coaches have me out there kicking with the team, then doing different things to get me in game mode.”
The NFL and the Bears have taken extra safety precautions to keep their players, coaches and staff safe, which has resulted in a 0.46% positive rate out of 109,075 total test.
“Things are very different,” Pineiro said. “You walk in and you have to test every single day, then you have to wear your mask around the facility at all times. I feel like the Bears have done a great job and in my opinion they are the best in the NFL on protecting us. I feel super safe and everyone is doing a great job.”
The Bears didn’t have an ideal season in 2019 after finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs. After some key signings, trades and draft picks, the Bears are looking to reclaim the NFC North and make a deep postseason run.
“We have to work as a team,” Pineiro said. “Everyone’s focused this year. Our team is matching the intensity at practice. Everyone is excited, and there’s a different type of focus from last year compared to this year.”
The Bears kick off the regular season in less than a month against the Detroit Lions, and if they want to have a special season like 2018, they are going to have to bring that excitement and have to rely on the leg of second year kicker Eddy Pineiro.
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