Falcons release longtime kicker Younghoe Koo two weeks after costly Week 1 error
Missed 44-yard field goal against Buccaneers prompts benching and release; Parker Romo promoted from practice squad
The Atlanta Falcons released veteran kicker Younghoe Koo on Friday, two weeks after a costly mistake in Week 1. Koo missed a 44-yard field goal that would have tied the Falcons’ season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a miss that proved costly for a team still trying to establish momentum early in the season.
The following week, Atlanta benched Koo and elevated Parker Romo from the practice squad to handle kicking duties. The move underscored the Falcons’ willingness to reshuffle special-teams personnel after an in-season setback.
Koo, widely regarded as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, had been a fixture for Atlanta since his arrival as a trusted option in the kicking game. His miss in Week 1 left the Falcons with a bruised sense of urgency as they faced a division rival in Tampa Bay, a game that highlighted the fragile nature of kicking roles in the league.
The Falcons confirmed the release as part of an ongoing evaluation of their special-teams unit. Romo’s promotion places him in position to handle field goals and extra points in the near term, with the team seeking more reliable rhythm on special teams after early-season results.
The decision comes amid a fraught start to the season for a franchise trying to rebound from a difficult 2024-25 campaign and reassert itself in the NFC South. The move also sets the stage for Romo’s first extended opportunity to prove himself at the NFL level, as Atlanta looks to stabilize kicking duties as it presses forward in 2025.