The New York Giants wasted no time cutting ties with veteran kicker Younghoe Koo, waiving him just over two weeks after his infamous “Monday Night Football” blunder that became instant meme fodder across the NFL. The 31-year-old former Pro Bowler, who joined the Giants’ practice squad in late September 2025 amid Graham Gano’s nagging injuries, stepped into the starter role by Week 10 but couldn’t steady the special teams ship for a franchise mired at 2-12 and long out of playoff contention. New York claimed linebacker Caleb Murphy off waivers from the New England Patriots on Tuesday, forcing the roster move that ends Koo’s short-lived Big Blue tenure.
Koo’s Giants stint started promisingly enough. Signed after a turbulent 2024 with the Atlanta Falcons—where he hit just 73.5% of field goals following Pro Bowl form in prior years—he nailed his debut in Week 10, converting 2-for-2 on field goals (long of 44 yards) and extra points against the Patriots. But disaster struck in Week 13’s primetime clash with New England: Koo shockingly shanked a field goal attempt, missing the ball entirely and slamming his foot into the turf in a humiliating whiff that didn’t even count as an official try. His post-game excuse fell flat, drawing widespread ridicule as the Giants’ kicking woes epitomized their dismal season.
The final nail came Sunday in a 29-21 loss to the Washington Commanders, where Koo bricked two more field goals, capping a dismal 4-for-6 (66.7%) overall on kicks and 11-for-12 on extras across five games. Undrafted rookie Ben Sauls, who has lingered on the practice squad, now inherits the gig to close out 2025, though Gano’s potential return looms if his neck and groin issues heal. Koo’s release underscores the Giants’ kicking carousel: Gano missed chunks of the year, international pathway kicker Jude McAtamney faltered earlier with missed extras, and Koo’s veteran pedigree (181-of-211 career FGs, 1 Pro Bowl) couldn’t overcome recent rust.
This saga traces Koo’s winding path. Released by Atlanta after a Week 1 miss in 2025—despite loyalty since 2019—he landed in New York, embracing the homecoming nod to his Ridgewood, NJ roots. Giants brass hoped his 86.5% accuracy in 2022-23 would stabilize things under Brian Daboll, but inconsistency prevailed amid a roster desperate for spark. Murphy’s arrival bolsters the defense, but special teams remain a punchline for a team eyeing a high 2026 draft pick.
| Koo’s Giants Stats | Made | Attempts | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | 4 | 6 | 66.7% |
| Extra Points | 11 | 12 | 91.7% |
| Weeks Played | – | 5 | – |
| Notable Miss | Week 13 whiff vs. NE | – | Didn’t count |
Koo’s abrupt exit highlights NFL kicking’s razor-thin margins—veterans get no grace in losing seasons. As Sauls steps up, Giants fans brace for more drama, but stability can’t come soon enough for a rebuild in flux.