Giants Release Kicker McAtamney After Costly Misses in Broncos Loss
In the wake of the New York Giants’ heartbreaking 33-32 defeat to the Denver Broncos, the organization has parted ways with kicker Jude McAtamney, whose missed extra points proved pivotal in the devastating loss. McAtamney, a Northern Ireland native who joined the Giants through the NFL’s International Pathway program, had been filling in for the injured Graham Gano since Week 3. While his journey from Rutgers to professional football initially showed promise, Sunday’s performance—particularly the missed extra point with just 37 seconds remaining that would have given the Giants a three-point cushion—ultimately led to his release after just four games with the team.
McAtamney’s brief NFL career reflects the razor-thin margins that often determine success or failure in professional sports. After a respectable debut against the Los Angeles Chargers where he converted two short field goals and an extra point, his performance began to deteriorate. A missed extra point against the Philadelphia Eagles last week foreshadowed Sunday’s costly miscues in Denver. While the Broncos’ ability to quickly advance downfield and set up Wil Lutz’s game-winning 39-yard field goal wasn’t McAtamney’s fault, his missed kicks created the scenario where Denver needed only a field goal rather than a touchdown to win. The Giants’ reluctance to attempt longer field goals due to concerns about McAtamney’s range further complicated their game strategy, including a failed two-point conversion attempt after taking a 19-0 lead on Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s touchdown.
The McAtamney situation highlights the precarious nature of specialist positions in the NFL, where players can go from heroes to casualties in the span of a single play. For McAtamney, who traveled thousands of miles from Northern Ireland to pursue an NFL career, the release represents a significant setback in his professional journey. His path through the International Pathway program and college football at Rutgers demonstrated remarkable determination, but the unforgiving reality of professional football—especially at a position where perfection is often the only acceptable standard—has temporarily derailed his NFL aspirations. Despite these setbacks, McAtamney’s international background and college experience suggest his football story may continue, whether in the NFL or elsewhere.
With McAtamney’s departure, the Giants now face a decision about who will handle kicking duties moving forward. Graham Gano, the team’s established kicker who has been sidelined on injured reserve, was scheduled to test his readiness on Tuesday. Meanwhile, former Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo, currently on the Giants’ practice squad, provides another veteran option. The competition between these two experienced kickers will unfold this week as the team prepares for Sunday’s crucial divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. While Gano brings a proven track record with 83.9% career accuracy on field goals, his availability has become increasingly unreliable, having missed 20 games since the 2023 season due to various injuries.
The Giants’ kicking situation reflects broader challenges facing the organization as they attempt to regroup following Sunday’s collapse. After building a commanding 19-0 lead over the Broncos, the Giants appeared poised for a much-needed victory before everything unraveled in dramatic fashion. The loss drops the team further in the standings and raises questions about their ability to close out games. Special teams miscues often receive disproportionate attention because of their decisive nature, but the Giants’ inability to prevent Denver’s final drive equally contributed to the defeat. Nevertheless, in the immediate aftermath, McAtamney became the most visible casualty of the team’s collective failure.
As the Giants prepare for their upcoming divisional contest against the Eagles, the organization hopes that stabilizing the kicker position will help prevent similar late-game collapses. Whether Gano returns or Koo steps in, the team desperately needs reliability from its special teams unit to complement improvements needed in other phases of the game. McAtamney’s brief tenure with the Giants serves as a reminder of both the opportunities and challenges presented by the NFL’s efforts to globalize the sport through programs like the International Pathway. While his story didn’t have the ending he hoped for in New York, the experience gained may serve him well if another NFL opportunity arises. Meanwhile, the Giants move forward, hoping their next kicking solution proves more durable as they attempt to salvage their season following one of the more painful losses in recent memory.
