Giants turn to Younghoe Koo to handle kicking duties amid McAtamney competition
Koo added to Giants' practice squad and is expected to handle placekicking Sunday vs. the Chargers after Gano's groin injury.
New York Giants are expected to sign Younghoe Koo to take over the team’s placekicking duties for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers after a weeklong kicking competition with Jude McAtamney. Graham Gano is dealing with a groin strain that sidelined him in last week’s 22-9 loss to the Chiefs, and the Giants added Koo to the practice squad on Tuesday while McAtamney remains on the practice squad in the competition.
Koo, 31, is an eight-year NFL veteran, almost entirely with the Falcons. He has made 85.8 percent of his field-goal attempts in his career, including a perfect 52-for-52 inside 30 yards and 52-of-56 from 30-39 yards. He has hit 29-of-40 from 50 yards or longer. Koo earned a Pro Bowl in 2020 after converting 37-of-39 attempts. He missed a 44-yarder in the opener this season, and the Falcons released him a week later. Koo spoke to the media after Giants practice on Sept. 25, 2025, reflecting on the challenge ahead.
Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial described an authentic confidence in Koo and said the situation is not too big for him, a trait that has helped him deliver several game-winning kicks. “There is an authentic confidence that you see with him, that the situation is not too big for him, and you see that amount to success,” Ghobrial said. “There’s a level of confidence. He goes out there knowing that he can execute at a high level.” Koo added that the work behind the scenes matters just as much as the moment: “It’s in the work. It’s in the preparation. It’s not just like going out there and just like, ‘Oh, yeah, I got it.’ It’s a confidence I have in myself with all the work I put into my craft, mentally, physically, everything that comes with this job.”
McAtamney, originally from Northern Ireland, is an extra practice squad player for the Giants, signed as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. He attempted and made one field goal last season for the Giants in his only NFL action. Koo, born in Seoul, South Korea, lived in Richfield, N.J., throughout high school. He’ll need to get in sync quickly with holder Jamie Gillan, the punter, and Casey Kreiter, the long snapper, as the transition unfolds, Ghobrial noted. “There’s certainly always going to be an acclimation process to where he has to learn the way we do things here,” he said. “Now, do I think that it could be a seamless transition for a guy that’s kicked seven years in this league? Yes, because he knows what to look for. He knows what he’s going to ask those guys to do. So, I think that that learning process has to happen, but it could happen fairly quickly.”
WR Malik Nabers (shoulder) returned to practice on a limited basis, as did TE Theo Johnson (shoulder). Both players sat out Wednesday. Darius Muasau is expected to clear concussion protocol by the end of the week, which would allow him to play Sunday. DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (foot), DL Chauncey Golston (ankle), K Graham Gano (groin) and RB Tyrone Tracy (shoulder) did not practice. NT Dexter Lawrence II is wearing a bulky protective brace on his left elbow. He was seen flexing the arm and asked about his status; coach Brian Daboll said he’d be okay. “He gets banged around a little bit, but he’ll be okay,” Daboll said.
