Chicago Bears: 4 players facing make-or-break seasons in 2020
By Ryan Heckman
3. Kicker Eddy Pineiro
Sure, he was out of the woods for the 2019 season, but Eddy Pineiro is hardly guaranteed a future in Chicago. Last spring, Ryan Pace owned and operated the infamous kicker circus act for what seemed like forever.
It appeared to some as somewhat of a joke after a while, because many fans had no faith whatsoever in any of the guys within the competition. Several fans wanted a rookie kicker such as Matt Gay, who ended up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Others would have settled on a more well-known veteran, even if he wasn’t exactly Justin Tucker.
In the end, it was Pineiro who won the job and, to be fair, he gave us some memorable moments in his first season with the Bears. There was no bigger moment in his career than the Week 2 kick he made from 53 yards out, on the road at Mile High, to win the game over the Denver Broncos. That moment seemed like it would be the early, significant momentum shift in his favor.
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Still, like many kickers, he had a few struggles. He missed some easy kicks. I will give him a pass on his first true professional season, but 2020 has to be the year that tells all of us fans: Hey, this is the guy.
If not, the Bears will assuredly address the kicker position in the offseason of 2021. It is easy to like Pineiro the man. He’s a lovable kid with a great attitude. I’m pulling for him, as I think many fans are. But, this is a pivotal year.