The New York Giants have fired kicker Jude McAtamney just two days after his disastrous performance directly contributed to one of the most heartbreaking losses of the season. The decision follows Sunday’s 32-31 defeat to the Denver Broncos, a game in which McAtamney missed two crucial extra points.
The undrafted rookie’s fate was sealed in the game’s final moments. After the Giants drove the length of the field to score what should have been the game-winning touchdown with just 37 seconds remaining, McAtamney shanked his second extra-point attempt of the day.
The miss left the Giants with a fragile two-point lead, allowing the Broncos to quickly move into field goal range for a game-winning kick from Will Lutz as time expired.
The rise of Jude McAtamney
The blunder capped a terrible day for McAtamney, who had also missed an extra point earlier in the game. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the performance was historically bad: McAtamney became the only kicker in the last 40 years to miss two unblocked extra points in a one-point loss.
The firing marks a brutal end to a remarkable journey for the Derry, Ireland native. A former Gaelic football star who helped lead the Derry GAA to a championship in 2018, McAtamney transitioned to American football after being inspired by another Irish player’s success.
He worked his way from Division II Chowan University to a spot at Rutgers, where he served as a placekicker and kickoff specialist.
What’s next for the Giants?
After an impressive pro day where he made all ten of his kicks, McAtamney signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent. He spent the 2024 season and the beginning of 2025 on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster following an injury to veteran starter Graham Gano.
With McAtamney now gone, the Giants are looking for a solution. The team is expected to test Gano this week to see if he is healthy enough to return. If not, they will likely turn to practice squad member Younghoe Koo.
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