Jets bolster special teams with signing of former Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo
Younghoe Koo, a former Pro Bowler who set a franchise record for the longest made field goal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, joins New York after a stint with the Giants.
The New York Jets have officially signed 31-year-old kicker Younghoe Koo, adding a veteran presence to a special teams unit that has faced scrutiny during the team’s recent struggles. The move brings a former Pro Bowler to the AFC franchise, with Koo expected to compete directly for the starting kicker position.
Koo’s career trajectory includes a significant tenure with the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent seven seasons and earned Pro Bowl honours in 2020. During his first five years with the Falcons, he demonstrated considerable reliability, connecting on at least 86 per cent of his field goals and missing only seven extra points. His tenure concluded with a historic moment in September 2024, when he set the record for the longest made field goal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Falcons released Koo three weeks into the 2025-26 campaign as his production declined. He subsequently signed with the New York Giants, where he finished the season with a 66.7 per cent field goal percentage and a 91.6 per cent extra point percentage. His recent performance history, including a 6-of-9 record on field goals and 13-of-14 on extra points across his final season in Atlanta and New York, provides the Jets with a player who has seen significant regular-season action.
Koo’s path to the NFL began after he went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft. He initially signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, serving as the team’s starter to begin the 2017-18 campaign. However, he was cut after four contests, having made three of six field goals and all of his extra points during that brief period. Following a gap of over two years without consistent work in the league, he joined the Falcons in 2019.
Given his experience and previous high-level success, the Jets view Koo as a viable candidate to secure the starting role. The signing represents a targeted effort to stabilise a specific position within the roster, leveraging Koo’s background as a Georgia Southern product who has navigated multiple franchises across the league.
