Why Younghoe Koo is Giants' kicker after surprise Falcons release

Billy Heyen

Why Younghoe Koo is Giants' kicker after surprise Falcons release image

Brett Davis (USA Today Network)

Younghoe Koo is in a new uniform this weekend.

For the first time, he'll kick for the New York Giants as they take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4 on Sunday afternoon.

It's a big change for Koo, who was the Atlanta Falcons' kicker since 2019 until a few weeks ago.

Now, in a new home, he'll try to prove he still belongs in the NFL.

UPDATE: The Giants activated kicker Jude McAtamney instead of Koo for Week 4.MORE: Buccaneers make a surprising Desmond Watson decision

Why is Younghoe Koo kicking for the Giants?

Koo, the former Falcons kicker, was newly signed by the Giants this week.

Graham Gano was ruled out with a groin injury, which means Koo was called up from the practice squad to handle kicking duties.

The Giants found a reliable veteran as a free agent to stand in for the injured Gano.

Why did the Falcons cut Younghoe Koo?

The Falcons kept their long-time kicker inactive in Week 2 and released him before Week 3.

The Falcons cut Koo in favor of Parker Romo, who then went out and missed both his field goal attempts in Week 3.

Koo was Atlanta's kicker dating to the 2019 season.

He had his worst NFL season last year, making only 73.5% of his field goal attempts. Koo had never been below 86% for a season before that.

Koo's last kick for the Falcons was a missed attempt at a game-winner in Week 1 (he made his first try, but a timeout had been called just before the kick, and he missed on the re-do).

And now it's onto new beginnings.

MORE: Vikings RB Zavier Scott has traveled a cool journey

Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle