Giants release kicker Jude McAtamney after missing game-changing extra point with seconds left

Two days after the New York Giants’ epic collapse against the Denver Broncos, they released one of the players responsible for the 33-32 loss.

Kicker Jude McAtamney, who missed multiple extra points in the loss, including one that would have put the Giants up by three with just seconds left in the fourth quarter, was released after playing four games for New York.

McAtamney, a second-year NFL kicker from Northern Ireland, joined the Giants through the league’s International Pathway program. After Graham Gano’s injury in Week 3, McAtamney was promoted to take over kicking duties.

McAtamney, who played college football at Rutgers, started well for the Giants, scoring two short field goals and an extra point in his debut against the Los Angeles Chargers.

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But McAtamney missed an extra point against the Philadelphia Eagles last week at home, and things got worse in Denver when he missed an extra point in the first half and the dreaded miss after Jaxson Dart’s rushing score gave New York a 32-30 lead with 37 seconds left in the game.

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The miss was catastrophic for the Giants, although it was not McAtamney’s fault that the Broncos drove down the field into Wil Lutz’s field goal range for the victory. He scored a 39-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

Instead of the field goal that tied the game at 33, the Broncos celebrated their victory by coming back, while the Giants were completely shocked by what happened in the fourth quarter.

McAtamney’s lack of field goal range also factored into this game because the Giants wasted attempts. They also decided to go for two when they took a 19-0 lead thanks to Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s rushing score. The conversion was unsuccessful.

Gano is eligible to come off injured reserve and was expected to kick on Tuesday to determine if he is ready to return to the team.

Meanwhile, Younghoe Koo, the former Atlanta Falcons kicker who was released earlier this season, has been on the Giants’ practice squad. He will battle Gano this week to determine who will kick for New York against the Eagles on the road on Sunday.

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Gano has battled injuries since the 2023 campaign and has struggled to be available for New York. He has missed 20 games since that season.

When healthy, Gano has proven to be one of the best kickers in the NFL, making 83.9% of his career field goal attempts.

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