In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through the Atlanta Falcons’ fanbase, the team announced the release of longtime kicker Younghoe Koo on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, just days after benching the former Pro Bowler for a Week 2 victory.
The 31-year-old South Korean-born specialist, who had been one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers during his tenure with the Dirty Birds, was let go as the Falcons promoted practice squad standout Parker Romo to the 53-man roster on a two-year deal.
The decision caps a turbulent start to the Falcons’ 2025 season for Koo, who missed a crucial 44-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds of Atlanta’s 23-20 Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—a kick that would have tied the game and potentially altered the narrative around the team’s early struggles.
Demoted to inactive status for the Falcons’ subsequent 22-6 road win over the Minnesota Vikings, Koo did not travel with the team and was ultimately deemed expendable despite a strong offseason recovery from a 2024 hip injury.
Koo’s release, while abrupt, appears tied to a sharp decline in performance over the past year. In 2024, he converted just 25 of 34 field goal attempts (73.5%), his lowest success rate as a Falcon and a far cry from the elite accuracy that defined his prime.
That season ended prematurely with a stint on injured reserve, and while Koo entered 2025 fully healthy, the Week 1 miss proved to be the final straw for head coach Raheem Morris and the front office.Stepping into the void is Parker Romo, a 28-year-old Georgia native whose family relocated from Arkansas to Atlanta this week in anticipation of the promotion.
Elevated from the practice squad for Week 2, Romo dazzled with a perfect 5-for-5 performance on field goals, including a booming 54-yarder that contributed 16 points to the Vikings win.
“You get an opportunity, you have to take advantage of it, and he definitely did,” Morris said post-release. “I think everybody knows his name right now.”
Romo, who went 11-of-12 for the Vikings in 2024, will make his first start as Atlanta’s primary kicker when the 1-1 Falcons host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.Financially, the move provides some relief for a Falcons team navigating salary cap constraints. Koo had two years remaining on his five-year, $24.25 million extension signed in 2022, with his 2025 salary fully guaranteed.
Atlanta absorbs a $1.25 million dead cap hit this year and $5.5 million in 2026 but saves $4.25 million in cap space for the current season.
Koo’s Falcons career, spanning since mid-2019 when he replaced veteran Matt Bryant, was a story of redemption and reliability. Undrafted out of Georgia Southern—where he set the school record for field goal percentage at 88.6%—Koo overcame early career setbacks, including a brief stint with the Los Angeles Chargers, to become Atlanta’s go-to guy.
From 2019 to 2023, he boasted an NFL-fourth-best 89.9% field goal success rate among kickers with 50+ attempts, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2020 after leading the league with 37 makes on 39 tries.
Overall, Koo leaves Atlanta as the franchise’s third-leading scorer with 700 points, trailing only legends Matt Bryant and Morten Andersen.
He finished 178-of-205 on field goals during his time in red and black.
In a heartfelt Instagram post shortly after the news broke, Koo reflected on his journey. “I want to thank the Falcons organization for giving me an opportunity when no one else would six years ago,” he wrote. “This place helped me grow as a kicker and as a man. I will forever be grateful for the support from the fans during my time here. I have nothing but love and respect for everyone in the building. I wish y’all the best. I’m full of gratitude and excitement as I continue my journey in this league.”
2 sourcesThe release has sparked immediate speculation about Koo’s next landing spot. At 31, with an 86% career field goal percentage (13th all-time in NFL history) and 96% on extra points, he’s likely to draw interest from contending teams seeking kicking stability.
Social media buzzed with calls for teams like the Cleveland Browns to pursue him, especially amid their own kicking woes.
For Falcons fans, the move is bittersweet. Koo’s clutch kicks, including game-winners against rivals like the New Orleans Saints, cemented his status as a fan favorite. As one X user lamented, “Younghoe Koo has been an Excellent Kicker for the Falcons a number of years… Not a Class Move, Falcons!”
Yet with Romo’s hot start and the team’s push for an NFC South title, the front office clearly prioritized momentum over sentiment.
The Falcons (1-1) look to build on their defensive dominance against Carolina, but the shadow of Koo’s departure looms large. In a league where kickers can make or break seasons, Atlanta is betting on fresh legs to keep the rise going.
