Younghoe Koo Gets Another Shot: Ne w York Giants Sign Former Atlanta Falcons Kicker
One team’s trash is another team’s treasure, and the New York Giants are betting that former Atlanta Falcons Kicker Younghoe Koo still has some magic left in that right leg of his. Will they end up being right?
Why Koo’s Giants Move Makes Perfect Sense
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Let’s be real here – the Giants didn’t exactly have a choice. When your starting Kicker Graham Gano is nursing a groin injury that has him hobbling around like he just finished a CrossFit workout, you need someone who can actually put the ball between those yellow posts. Enter Koo, stage right.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect for both sides. Koo was essentially homeless after Atlanta gave him the boot following that infamous 44-yard miss against Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, the Giants watched Gano grimace through their Week 3 loss to Kansas City, and you could practically see the “HELP WANTED” sign going up at MetLife Stadium.
Koo’s Track Record Speaks Volumes
Here’s where things get interesting. This isn’t some random dude they plucked from a local rec league. Koo sits pretty at 13th on the NFL’s all-time field goal percentage leaderboard with a minimum of 100 attempts. That’s not shabby company to keep.
Remember 2020? That was Koo’s breakout season when he went absolutely nuclear, converting 37 of 39 field goals for a ridiculous 94.9% success rate. He earned a Pro Bowl nod that year and had fantasy football owners treating him like he was made of gold. The guy was money from everywhere except maybe the parking lot.
The Giants’ Kicking Carousel Continues
This move highlights just how brutal the kicking position can be in the NFL. One minute you’re the hero, the next you’re updating your LinkedIn profile. Gano has been dealing with injuries for three straight seasons now – first a knee surgery, then a hamstring pull, and now this groin issue that has him moving like he’s walking on eggshells.
The Giants already have Jude McAtamney on their practice squad through the International Pathway Program, but let’s face it – when you’re 0-3 and fighting for relevance in the NFC, you want the proven commodity. Koo brings 93 games of experience and has connected on 181 of 211 field goal attempts over his career.
What This Means Moving Forward
For Koo, this is pure redemption territory. Getting cut after one bad kick would sting anybody’s pride, especially when you’ve been as reliable as he has throughout his career. The practice squad signing gives him a chance to show he’s still got it without the immediate pressure of being the guy.
The Giants, meanwhile, get insurance for a position that’s been giving them headaches. If Gano can’t go, they’re not scrambling to find some random kicker off the street who might fold under the bright lights.
This whole situation perfectly captures the NFL’s “what have you done for me lately” mentality. Koo went from Pro Bowler to unemployed faster than you can say “wide left,” but now he’s got another chance to prove that one bad kick doesn’t define a career.
