LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- In the days since his game-winning field goal beat the Broncos on Sunday and thrilled a city, Bears kicker Eddy Pineiro hasn't been thinking about the ensuing celebration or the fanfare that has followed.
Pineiro keeps finding his mind wandering to the time he slept in a car with his father earlier in his journey to the NFL. It was late May 2015, and kicking coach Chris Sailer had convinced Pineiro and his father, Eddy Sr., to travel to Tuscaloosa for a kicking camp that he was conducting at the University Alabama. Pineiro knew a strong performance would ultimately lead to scholarship offers.
Pineiro and his father couldn't afford a hotel room but recognized the chance that lay ahead. They drove to Tuscaloosa and slept cramped in a car until the sun would rise on that new day.
"That's what brought tears to my eyes after that kick," Pineiro said Wednesday. "Just remembering that moment, like, damn, I was literally sleeping in a car with my dad trying to friggin get some good sleep and go to the camp and win a scholarship. That's what came to my mind."
The journey that Pineiro took to becoming the Bears' kicker has kept him humble as he's toast of the town following his 53-yard field goal with one second remaining that gave the Chicago a 16-14 victory at Denver on Sunday. Pineiro's latest recognition came Wednesday as he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
The Bears have an appreciation for the 24-year-old Pineiro -- not only because of his winning field goal but also because of the work he put forth to earn his place after the organization's exhaustive search to address the kicking position.
"He's worked so hard," Bears guard Kyle Long said of Pineiro. "He's been put in so difficult positions, from the start of when we came together in the spring, the summer. Just really happy for him."
Pineiro is 4-of-4 on field-goal attempts to start his Bears career. His early success has strengthened the hopes of the Bears and Pineiro himself that the organization has found a kicker for the long term.
"I want to be a great kicker so I can support my family for the rest of my life so they never have to work a day in their life," Pineiro said. "That's been my goal since day one. They've struggled so much and they've given me everything. Now it's time that I give them everything."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
