Family responsibility, perseverance paved Eddy Piñeiro’s unconventional NFL path

SANTA CLARA — As Eddy Piñeiro will tell you, you can learn anything on YouTube.“My dad and I would watch videos on YouTube, and then go out to the field and I’d practice,” Piñeiro told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I really wanted to play soccer, but my dad wanted me to learn how to kick.”Piñeiro sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area and shared his unconventional journey to becoming the 49ers kicker, which started with his Father, Eddy Sr., and learning how to kick by watching YouTube instructional videos.Even after learning how to kick, it took more than one try for football to stick with Piñeiro. The kicker actually gave up the game multiple times before finally deciding it could be a viable career choice.“I quit football twice,” Piñeiro said. “I played football in high school for like two games, and then I quit. I was like, ‘That’s it, I’m done. I don’t want play, I want to play soccer.’ And then I went to junior college because I didn’t have the grades coming out of high school, I had to go ju-co.” Photo courtesy Piñeiro familyPiñeiro played...