Younghoe Koo
19ms
From Seoul, South Korea, to the bright lights of the NFL, Younghoe Koo's journey is one of resilience and remarkable talent. He's not just a kicker; he's a game-changer, currently electrifying crowds as the placekicker for the New York Giants.
Koo holds a distinguished spot on the NFL's all-time leaderboard, ranking 13th in field goal percentage among kickers with at least 100 attempts. But his prowess extends beyond sheer accuracy; he's renowned for his clutch onside kicks, often turning the tide of a game when all seems lost.
His college career at Georgia Southern Eagles was stellar, culminating in a finalist nomination for the prestigious Lou Groza Award in 2016. His professional path began with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, a start that was unfortunately cut short by missed game-ending kicks. After a year away, Koo found new life with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football, making history by scoring the league's first points and maintaining a perfect kicking record until the league's suspension. He swiftly returned to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons the same year, a move that paid dividends. In 2020, his exceptional performance led the league in scoring, earning him a well-deserved Pro Bowl selection.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, on August 3, 1994, Koo's early life was steeped in soccer and a regional kicking competition. At just 12 years old, he moved to the United States to reunite with his mother, a nurse in New Jersey, while his father remained in Seoul as a university professor. In Ridgewood High School, New Jersey, Koo not only excelled on special teams but also made his mark on defense, racking up six interceptions in his senior season, where he was named team MVP.
At Georgia Southern University, Koo was a consistent force for the Eagles over four seasons. He earned first-team all-conference honors in the Sun Belt Conference during his final year, converting an impressive 19 of 20 field goal attempts. His college career concluded with a remarkable 88.6% field goal conversion rate, a Georgia Southern team record.
Koo's professional journey began with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He secured the starting kicker position after preseason, becoming the fourth player in NFL history born in South Korea. However, his tenure with the Chargers was brief. After a blocked game-tying field goal and a missed game-winning attempt in consecutive weeks, coupled with a 0-4 team start, the Chargers waived him. Despite the tough start, his talent was recognized, with Chargers' head coach Anthony Lynn predicting a long NFL career and veteran kicker Nick Novak praising his "live leg and a lot of talent." Overall, Koo went 3-of-6 on field goals with the Chargers.
In 2019, Koo signed with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football. He etched his name in league history by scoring the first points in AAF regular season history with a 38-yard field goal. He was instrumental in several victories, including a game-winning kick against the Arizona Hotshots and another with seconds remaining against the Memphis Express, earning him AAF Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His perfect 14-of-14 field goal record for the season was testament to his reliability.
Following the AAF's suspension, Koo briefly worked out with the Chicago Bears before signing with the New England Patriots' practice squad in October 2019. He was released shortly thereafter.
His career took a significant turn when he was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on October 29, 2019. In his Falcons debut, Koo was perfect, making all four of his field goals and both extra points in a surprising upset win over the New Orleans Saints, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He showcased his versatility by delivering three successful onside kicks in a Thanksgiving Day game against the Saints. The following week, he set a then-career-long with a 50-yard field goal and also recovered a fumble, earning him another NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.
The 2020 season saw Koo sign a one-year contract extension with the Falcons. He was a consistent performer, kicking multiple field goals in numerous games, including a career-high 5 field goals in a blowout win against the Las Vegas Raiders. His stellar November performance earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Month. By Week 13, he had become the NFL's leading scorer. Despite a missed game-tying field goal late in the season, Koo's consistent excellence led to his first Pro Bowl selection on December 20, 2020. He signed another contract extension with the Falcons in March 2021.
The 2021 season was marked by Koo's signature game-winning kicks. He delivered three such kicks as time expired, including against the New York Giants, the Miami Dolphins, and the New Orleans Saints, solidifying his reputation as a clutch performer.
In March 2022, Koo inked a significant five-year, $24.25 million contract extension with the Falcons. He continued his trend of late-game heroics, booting game-winning field goals in overtime against the Carolina Panthers and as time expired against the Arizona Cardinals. His exceptional December and January performance, going a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points, earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.
The 2023 season saw Koo continue his streak of game-winning kicks. He kicked a go-ahead field goal late against the Green Bay Packers, a field goal as time expired for a victory over the Houston Texans, and a dramatic 51-yard game-winner as time expired against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He was again recognized as Player of the Week for his perfect 5-for-5 performance against the Indianapolis Colts.
In the 2024 season, Koo extended his career-long with a 58-yard field goal against the New Orleans Saints, securing a victory. He followed that up with a game-tying 52-yard field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading to an overtime win. However, his season was cut short on December 18, 2024, when he was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury.
The 2025 season saw Koo begin with the Falcons, but after a missed game-tying field goal in Week 1 and the subsequent signing of John Parker Romo, Koo was released by the Falcons on September 19, ending his seven-year tenure with the team.
On September 23, 2025, Koo found a new home, signing with the New York Giants practice squad.
Off the field, Younghoe Koo married Ava Maurer in 2023. His career statistics and personal life are a testament to a kicker who has not only overcome adversity but has consistently delivered when it matters most, becoming a true force in the National Football League.
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Younghoe Koo (Korean: 구영회; pronounced ; YUNG-way; born August 3, 1994) is a South Korean-American professional football placekicker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He is 13th on the NFL's all-time leaderboard in field goal percentage (minimum 100 attempts) and also known for his ability to successfully execute onside kicks.
Koo played four seasons of college football for the Georgia Southern Eagles and was named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2016. He began his professional career with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, but was released four weeks into the season after missing consecutive game-ending kicks. Following a year away from football, Koo played for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), scoring the first points in league history and converting all of his kicks until the AAF indefinitely suspended operations. Koo returned to the NFL with the Falcons the same year. In 2020, Koo was named to the Pro Bowl after leading the league in scoring.
== Early life ==
Koo was born on August 3, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea. He played soccer growing up and won a regional kicking competition in South Korea. He moved to the United States when he was 12 years old to live with his mother, who had gone to New Jersey two years earlier to work as a nurse while Koo's father remained in Seoul as a professor at Induk University.
Koo played on the football team for Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He was named team MVP his senior season, contributing on both special teams and defense, where he tallied six interceptions.
== College career ==
At Georgia Southern University, Koo was a four-year contributor for the Eagles, earning first-team all-conference honors in the Sun Belt Conference in his final season, during which he converted 19 of 20 field goal attempts. He was also named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the best college kicker in the nation. At the conclusion of his college career, Koo ultimately converted 88.6% of his field goal attempts, a Georgia Southern team record.
== Professional career ==
=== Los Angeles Chargers ===
Koo signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL draft. He won the starting job over incumbent kicker Josh Lambo following the conclusion of the preseason. Koo became the fourth player in NFL history to have been born in South Korea.
In the 2017 season opener on the road against the Denver Broncos, Koo's game-tying 44-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the game was blocked by the Broncos' Shelby Harris, and the Chargers lost 24–21. The kick had little chance of succeeding after Denver overwhelmed the Chargers' line on the play. An earlier attempt by Koo was successful, but it was called off after the Broncos had called a timeout right before the snap. The following week, Koo missed a game-winning 44-yard attempt in a 19–17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The following two weeks, Koo converted both of his field goal attempts and all four of his extra points. However, the 0–4 Chargers waived him after Week 4, replacing him with 10-year veteran Nick Novak. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn stated that he wanted "someone with a little more consistency and experience" than Koo. Lynn added that, "I think Koo is going to have a long NFL career ... A lot of rookies get cut early in their career, and they come back and play for a lot of years." "Koo's a very talented kicker," Novak said. "He's got a live leg and a lot of talent." Overall with the Chargers, Koo was 3-of-6 on field goals and recorded 8 touchbacks on 14 kickoffs. Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports wrote that the winless Chargers were "using [Koo] as a scapegoat."
=== Atlanta Legends ===
On January 14, 2019, Koo signed with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). On February 9, he scored the first points in AAF regular season history, making a 38-yard field goal against the Orlando Apollos. After the Legends started the 2019 AAF season 0–3, on March 3, Koo kicked two field goals, including the 33-yard game winner, against the Arizona Hotshots to seal the 14–11 Atlanta win. The following week against the Memphis Express, he made all three of his attempts, including the game-winning 35-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining to secure a 23–20 victory, and was eventually named AAF Special Teams Player of the Week. The league ceased operations during midseason in April 2019. For the year, Koo had been a perfect 14-of-14 on his field goals.
=== New England Patriots ===
Following the suspension of the AAF, Koo worked out with the Chicago Bears, who were in need of a kicker after releasing Cody Parkey, but did not end up signing with the team. After longtime kicker Stephen Gostkowski was placed on injured reserve, the New England Patriots signed Koo to their practice squad on October 4, 2019. On October 15, 2019, Koo was released.
=== Atlanta Falcons ===
==== 2019 season ====
On October 29, 2019, Koo was signed by the Atlanta Falcons after they cut their longtime kicker and franchise leading scorer, Matt Bryant. In his Falcons debut, Koo made all four of his field goals (including a 48-yarder) and both of his extra points in a 26–9 upset win over the New Orleans Saints.
He was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. In Week 13 against the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving Day, Koo delivered three successful onside kicks, one of which was undone by a penalty, in the 26–18 loss. In Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers, Koo made four field goals (including a then career-long 50-yarder), four extra points, and recovered a fumble forced by teammate Damontae Kazee on wide receiver Greg Dortch during a kickoff return in the 40–20 win. For this performance, he was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time.
==== 2020 season ====
On February 18, 2020, Koo signed a one-year contract extension with the Falcons. In Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, Koo made all four of his field goal attempts, and all three of his extra points in the 39–40 loss. In Week 5 against the Panthers, Koo made both of his field goal attempts (including a career-long 54-yarder), in the 16-23 loss. In Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, Koo went 4-for-4 on field goals, as well as 4-for-4 on extra points, in the 40–23 win. In Week 8 against the Panthers, Koo made all four of his field goal attempts in the 25–17 win. In Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Koo made a career-high 5 field goals in the 43–6 blowout win. For his efforts in the month of November, Koo was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month. Koo became the NFL's leading scorer following Week 13, having made 32 of 33 field goals and 23 extra points for a total of 119 points. In Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Koo missed a game-tying 39-yard field goal in the 14–17 loss after the ball was tipped by the Chiefs' Tanoh Kpassagnon.
On December 20, 2020, Koo was selected to his first Pro Bowl. He signed a contract extension with the Falcons on March 11, 2021.
==== 2021 season ====
In Week 3, Koo made a game winning 40-yard field goal as time expired to defeat the New York Giants 17–14. Koo made another game-winning field goal in Week 7 against the Dolphins to give the Falcons a 30–28 win as time expired. Koo made his third game-ending field goal of the season in a 27–25 Week 9 road win over the Saints.
==== 2022 season ====
On March 15, 2022, Koo signed a five-year, $24.25 million contract extension with the Falcons. In Week 8 against the Panthers, Koo made a game winning 41-yard field goal to give the Falcons a 37–34 overtime win. In Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals, Koo made another game-winning field goal to give the Falcons a 20–19 win as time expired. Koo went 12/12 on field goals and 7/7 on extra points in the months of December and January. For his efforts, he was named NFC Special Teams Player Of The Month.
==== 2023 season ====
In Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, Koo kicked a go-ahead game-winning field goal with less than a minute left to give the Falcons a 25–24 win. In Week 5 against the Houston Texans, Koo kicked a field goal as time expired to give Atlanta a 21-19 victory. For the third time, in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Koo kicked a game-winning 51 yard field goal as time expired and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. Koo was again named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his Week 16 performance against the Indianapolis Colts, going 5-for-5 on field goals.
==== 2024 season ====
In a Week 4 divisional matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Koo went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a career-long 58-yard field goal to put the Falcons ahead in the final seconds as they won 26–24. The following week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he hit a game-tying 52-yard field goal to end regulation as the Falcons went on to win in overtime 36–30. On December 18, 2024, Koo was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury.
==== 2025 season ====
In Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Koo would make 2 out of 3 field goals and 2 out of 2 extra point kicks, but missed a game–tying 43 yard field goal which would have sent the game into overtime. He was benched the following week as the Falcons signed John Parker Romo, who started Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. After seven seasons, Koo was released by the Falcons on September 19, two days before Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers.
=== New York Giants ===
On September 23, 2025, Koo signed with the New York Giants practice squad.
== NFL career statistics ==
=== Regular season ===
== Personal life ==
Koo married Ava Maurer in 2023.
== Notes ==
== References ==
== External links ==
Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · Yahoo Sports
New York Giants bio
Official website
Georgia Southern Eagles bio
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