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| Eddy Piñeiro | |
|---|---|
| Name | Eddy Piñeiro |
| Birth date | January 21, 1995 |
| Birth place | Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in |
| Weight | 195 lb |
| College | Florida Atlantic University; University of Florida |
| Position | Placekicker |
| Nfl debut | 2018 |
| Teams | Oakland Raiders; Chicago Bears; Las Vegas Raiders; New England Patriots; Washington Football Team; Indianapolis Colts |
Eddy Piñeiro is an American professional placekicker who has played in the National Football League since 2018. Known for a strong leg and clutch kick attempts, he emerged from a background that combined Cuban heritage and Chicago-area upbringing to reach collegiate football at Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida before entering professional ranks. Across multiple NFL franchises, he has been noted for game-winning kicks and special teams contributions.
Born in Miami, Florida, Piñeiro was raised in a family with roots in Cuba and grew up in Miami Gardens, Florida and later Hialeah, Florida. He attended Barry University preparatory programs and played high school football in the Florida high school system, competing against programs from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School. During his youth he participated in local leagues affiliated with Pop Warner Little Scholars and trained at facilities used by prospects who later attended Boise State University, Clemson University, and Ohio State University. His early coaches included former college and professional specialists who had worked with kickers heading to University of Miami and Florida State University programs.
Piñeiro began collegiate play at Florida Atlantic University where he served as a kickoff specialist and redshirted in programs overseen by head coaches connected to Lane Kiffin and Charlie Partridge. He later transferred to the University of Florida, joining the Florida Gators under head coach Jim McElwain and special teams coordinators who had worked with personnel from Alabama and LSU. At Florida, he converted field goals and extra points in games against opponents such as Vanderbilt, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Missouri. His college tenure placed him in SEC competition alongside programs like Georgia Bulldogs, Auburn Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers, and Texas A&M Aggies. He trained with specialists who had ties to NFL kickers from franchises such as the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Green Bay Packers.
After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Piñeiro signed with the Oakland Raiders and appeared in preseason matchups against teams like the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers. He was released and later signed by the Chicago Bears, where he made his NFL regular-season debut under head coach Matt Nagy and special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. While with the Bears, Piñeiro kicked game-winning field goals in contests versus the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and Green Bay Packers and connected on long-distance attempts reminiscent of kickers from the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. Following stints that included returns to the Las Vegas Raiders and practice squad time with the New England Patriots, he joined the Indianapolis Colts as part of journeys similar to journeyman specialists who have played for the Seattle Seahawks or Kansas City Chiefs. Across these moves he worked with coordinators who previously coached special teams for the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Carolina Panthers.
Piñeiro is noted for leg strength and kickoff distance comparable to kickers who began their careers at University of Notre Dame or Texas Tech University. His range allows attempts from 50+ yards against defenses coordinated like those from the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, and his onside kick techniques have been deployed in strategies similar to those used by the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. Analysts from outlets covering the NFL Network, ESPN, CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and The Athletic have highlighted his quick approach, ability to handle pressure in NFC and AFC contest environments, and a kicking motion that draws comparisons to veterans from the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears.
Piñeiro's family background includes Cuban heritage connected to the Cuban American National Foundation community in Florida. Off the field, he has participated in community outreach programs with organizations like the United Way and local chapters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, working in neighborhoods similar to Hialeah and Miami-Dade County. He has been involved in charitable events alongside NFL alumni from franchises including the New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams and attended events with athletes who played for Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association teams based in Miami and Chicago.
Piñeiro's professional statistics include field goal conversion percentages and longest field goals recorded during seasons that can be compared to franchise records for the Chicago Bears and Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders. His career includes clutch field goals in regular season and impact plays on kickoffs and onside attempts, placing him among active NFL kickers with notable long-distance success similar to those from the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots. Detailed seasonal breakdowns track games played, field goals made and attempted, extra points, and longest successful attempts across matchups with teams like the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, San Diego Chargers legacy records, and St. Louis Rams legacy comparisons.
Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:American football placekickers Category:University of Florida alumni Category:Florida Atlantic University alumni