Caleb Williams didn’t know who Moody was when he first joined the Bears practice squad in Week 2. That was until Moody made a 65-yard field goal in practice.

Moody — who was cut by the 49ers, the team that drafted him, after their season opener — found out Monday he would be elevated from the practice squad and tasked with kicking against the Commanders in less-than-ideal weather conditions.

Still, through the wind and rain, with the game at his feet and unfamiliar faces in front of him on the Washington 20-yard line, Moody delivered in his Bears debut with a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired.

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“It feels amazing, obviously,” Moody told reporters. “Hitting a game-winner is always a good time. Doing it for a new team in my first game, it’s huge. Shoutout to the O-line. Shoutout to [long snapper] Scott [Daly] and [holder] Tory [Taylor]. They’ve been making my job real easy out here and the transition has been really smooth. So, glad to be a part of a team like this and we’re going to keep moving forward.”

Right as the kick flew through the uprights to give the Bears the dramatic victory, chaos ensued.

Taylor shot up from his holder position before headbutting and hugging Moody.

The entire field goal unit swarmed Moody as players on the sideline rushed onto the field to celebrate, while long snapper Scott Daly took off to recover the football.

“I wanted to get the ball,” Daly said. “That’s a souvenir that will be very special for him.”

As the entire team made their way to Moody, defensive linemen Gervon Dexter Sr., Dayo Odeyingbo and Daniel Hardy helped lift Moody after another teammate shouted, “pick him up!”

“We were just happy to win, happy for Jake,” Odeyingbo said. “First game out and having a big moment like that, so just happy for him and trying to lift my brother up.”

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MOODY! MOODY! MOODY! pic.twitter.com/fq7OC0vntS

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 14, 2025

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Caleb Williams was PUMPED for Jake Moody ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ucP8NZNqx5

— NFL (@NFL) October 14, 2025

Moody’s heroics came after just a few weeks of practicing with the Bears and taking minimal reps on the practice squad. That was until last week as Santos battled a right thigh injury that he suffered in the Bears’ Week 4 victory over the Raiders. While Santos entered Monday as questionable to play, he was eventually placed on the inactive list, setting Moody up to kick in a live setting for the first time since Sept. 7.

While the game-winning field goal was dramatic for players, coaches and fans alike, Moody coming through in the clutch didn’t come as a shock to head coach Ben Johnson.

“I wasn’t surprised at all,” Johnson said. “We’ve seen him in practice now for a number of weeks, that’s one. And then we also know what he’s capable of. He’s made big kicks in big games over the course of his career so far, so none of it was surprising. I think that’s who he is and I think that change of scenery was really good for him.”

The walk-off field goal — set up by cornerback Nahshon Wright’s fumble recovery with 3:07 left in the game and a 36-yard drive by the offense — was just one of the four field goals Moody made on Monday Night Football. His four makes equaled a franchise record for most field goals made in a debut, matching Jeff Jaeger who did so in Week 4 of the 1996 season.

Moody hit field goals from 47 and 48 yards on the Bears’ first two offensive possessions before making a 41-yarder with 8:09 left in the third quarter. At the start of the fourth quarter, Moody attempted a go-ahead 48-yard field goal, but the kick was blocked.

Before lining up for the game-winner, his next and only other attempt following the block, Moody gave himself a simple message: “You’re only as good as your next kick,” which allowed him as smooth of a recovery as possible.

“Such a cool story,” Daly said. “So happy for Jake. He’s obviously been in this league for a couple years now, but for him to be able to come in here with a couple weeks notice and be able to get the job done … Obviously the kick before wasn’t pretty. I look at myself on that one. I’ve got to do a better job with protection in the left ‘A’ gap.

“For all of us to bounce back and persevere, not only on the special teams, but also the team as a whole that we were able to persevere and find a way to get a win.”

The Bears’ victory in Washington marks a three-game winning streak and their second straight game decided on a field goal attempt. Against the Raiders Sept. 28, the Bears won thanks a blocked field goal by cornerback Josh Blackwell.

Being on the opposite side of the field-goal attempt Monday night, yet still coming out on top, provided the Bears an added layer of excitement.

“It just shows that we’re resilient,” Odeyingbo said. “We’re gonna fight to the end on the very last play. Whether we’re kicking the last field goal or they’re kicking the last field goal, we’re gonna find a way to make that game-winning play and come home with a win.”

Moody’s dramatic Bears debut ended with a postgame locker room celebration and a game ball delivered by Johnson.

Between the various postgame on-field and locker room festivities, Moody became acclimated to his new teammates in the best way possible. Still, he’ll probably be conducting more introductions all week long.

“I’m glad to be on the team, glad to be a part of this,” Moody said. “I can’t wait to formally meet everybody else at some point.”