It’s the end of an era in Atlanta – Younghoe Koo’s time with the Falcons has come to a close. The team announced on Friday that they’re releasing the 31-year-old kicker, replacing him with Parker Romo. I’ve got to say, it’s not entirely surprising. Koo had been with the Falcons since 2019 and was a Pro Bowler, but he’s been struggling with consistency lately.
Let’s give the guy some credit, though – from 2020 to 2023, Koo was one of the most accurate kickers in the league, making an average of 90.1% of his field goals. But last season, he dipped to just 73.5%, which isn’t going to cut it in the NFL. And even though he reportedly made 90.2% of his kicks in training camp and preseason this year, it wasn’t enough to save his job.
It all came down to a missed 44-yard field goal in the final seconds of the Falcons’ Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers. If he makes that kick, the game goes to overtime, and who knows what happens. But he didn’t, and now he’s out of a job. Romo, on the other hand, was signed to the practice squad and then started in Week 2 against the Vikings, where he went 5-for-5 on field goals, including a 54-yarder. Not bad for a guy who barely knows his teammates’ names – I mean, he admitted it in a postgame interview, and it’s kind of hilarious.
When asked by NBC’s Melissa Stark if he knew his teammates’ names, Romo replied, “I know Bijan,” referring to the Falcons’ Pro Bowl running back. Then, when introduced to Leonard Floyd, Romo shook his hand and said, “Nice to meet you.” I guess when you’re new to a team, you don’t really have time to learn everyone’s names, but it’s still pretty funny.
Anyway, Koo took to Instagram to thank the Falcons organization for giving him a chance when no one else would, and he wished the team all the best. It’s always tough to see a player get released, but it’s the nature of the business. And who knows, maybe Koo will bounce back with another team and prove himself all over again. As for Romo, he’s got a tough act to follow, but he’s off to a great start.
