"Kickers are a fraternity, Gay said 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."
"Gay, 31, has experienced the highs and lows that come with the job since becoming a fifth-round draft pick out of Utah in 2018 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won the Lou Groza Award as the college football's top place kicker in 2017. His pro debut was against the 49ers in 2019 but was cut in training camp the following year and spent part of 2020 on the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts before being signed by the Rams."
"He had the best year of his career in 2021, converting 32 of 34 field goal attempts as Los Angeles won the NFC West and went on to win the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. The 49ers, on the strength of wins over Green Bay and Dallas, advanced to the NFC Championship Game in Los Angeles. Although they beat the Rams twice in the regular season, the wild-card 49ers lost 20-17 in the title game. Trailing 17-7, the Rams got within 17-14 and then went ahead on 40- and 34-yard field goals by Gay to win the championship. Gay also had a 41-yard field goal in a 23-20 win over Cincinnati in the Super Bowl."
Matt Gay signed to the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad and will replace Eddy Pineiro for the upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers. Gay expects the role to be temporary and described kickers as a fraternity, expressing gratitude for the opportunity. He was a fifth-round pick from Utah in 2018, won the Lou Groza Award in 2017, and experienced multiple roster changes early in his career. Gay joined the Rams, had his best season in 2021 converting 32 of 34 field goals, and kicked decisive postseason field goals that led Los Angeles to the Super Bowl and the championship.
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