Why Younghoe Koo is planned kicker for Giants in Week 10 instead of Graham Gano

Billy Heyen

Why Younghoe Koo is planned kicker for Giants in Week 10 instead of Graham Gano image

The New York Giants have already used two kickers this season.

Week 10 could feature a third.

The Giants are preparing Younghoe Koo to start against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

Why is Younghoe Koo the Giants' kicker plan?

An injury to Graham Gano has pushed Koo into the spotlight.

Gano has missed practice Wednesday and Thursday so far in the preparation for Week 10 with a neck injury.

Earlier this season, Gano was out for four games with a groin problem, and Jude McAtamney kicked in his place. But when the Northern Ireland native missed two extra points in a one-point loss to the Broncos, that ended his stint.

Koo started the season with the Atlanta Falcons but was benched a week into the season and released after another.

He was Atlanta's kicker since 2019, but he struggled in 2024 and then missed a potential game-tying field goal in Week 1 this season. 

The Giants chose to go with McAtamney over Koo when Gano was hurt earlier in the year, which may not have been a ringing endorsement of Koo.

But this time around, it sounds like Koo will get his chance. This could be crucial for Koo to try to extend his NFL career and get another starting job somewhere down the road.

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Senior Editor