A New Era in Atlanta’s Kicking Game
The Atlanta Falcons have made a significant change to their special teams, officially releasing veteran kicker Younghoe Koo on Friday, September 19, 2025. The move concludes a swift series of events that began with a critical miss in Week 1 and was solidified by a flawless performance from his replacement, Parker Romo, who has now been signed to the 53-man roster on a two-year deal.
Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed the decision ahead of the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. “We’re going to go with Romo,” Morris stated. “He earned it last week going 5-for-5, and you gotta go with that again.”
The Path to a Roster Change
The decision to move on from Koo, a fan favorite and former Pro Bowler, was not made lightly. The catalyst was his performance in the season-opening 23-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he missed a potential game-tying 44-yard field goal as time expired. This miss came after a challenging 2024 season in which Koo converted just 73.5% of his field goal attempts, his lowest success rate since 2017.
Following the Week 1 loss, the Falcons acted quickly, signing Parker Romo to the practice squad. The team then made the decisive choice to make Koo a healthy scratch for their Week 2 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Koo did not travel with the team, signaling a potential shift in the kicking hierarchy.
Romo’s Flawless Debut
Elevated from the practice squad, Parker Romo seized his opportunity in the September 14 game against the Vikings. The 28-year-old delivered a perfect performance, which included:
- Connecting on all five of his field goal attempts.
- Successfully converting his only extra-point try.
- Hitting a long field goal from 54 yards.
Romo accounted for 16 of Atlanta’s 22 points in their 22-6 victory, a performance that effectively won him the starting job. His impressive debut under pressure gave the Falcons’ front office the confidence to make the change permanent.
Koo’s Legacy and Financial Implications
Younghoe Koo’s departure marks the end of a memorable tenure in Atlanta. Since joining the team in 2019, he became one of the league’s most reliable kickers, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2020 after leading the NFL with 37 made field goals. He leaves as the third-leading scorer in franchise history.
In a post on Instagram, Koo expressed his gratitude: “I want to thank the Falcons organization for giving me an opportunity when no one else would six years ago… I will forever be grateful for the support from the fans during my time here.”
From a financial standpoint, releasing Koo will result in a $1.25 million dead money charge against the salary cap this year, but it will also provide the team with $4.25 million in savings, according to digitaltrendstoday.com.
Looking Ahead to Week 3
With the decision finalized, the Falcons will move forward with Romo as their primary kicker. The team is preparing for a divisional road game against the 0-2 Carolina Panthers. Atlanta will be looking to build on its Week 2 victory but will be doing so without cornerback A.J. Terrell and wide receiver Casey Washington, who have both been ruled out with injuries.
