From undrafted free agent to NFL scoring leader: the resilient career of Younghoe Koo
In short: After being released by the Chargers just four weeks into his rookie season, many thought his professional football journey was over. Instead, the South Korean-born kicker transformed from a dismissed rookie into a Pro Bowl scoring leader, proving that even the most high-pressure moments can be mastered.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1994, Younghoe Koo moved to New Jersey at age 12. His path to the NFL was anything but linear. After a stellar collegiate career at Georgia Southern—where he set school records with an 89.7% field goal conversion rate—he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. However, his tenure in Los Angeles was brief; following consecutive game-ending missed kicks, the team waived him after only four weeks, citing a need for more consistency.
Koo’s career is a study in professional perseverance. Following a hiatus from the NFL, he joined the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019, where he scored the league's first points and maintained a perfect 14-for-14 field goal record before the league suspended operations. This resurgence paved the way for his return to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons in late 2019. In Atlanta, he became a cornerstone of the special teams unit, leading the league in scoring by 2020 and earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
His time with the Falcons was marked by legendary precision and high-stakes drama. He became famous for his ability to execute onside kicks and for hitting clutch, game-ending field goals, including a 51-yarder against the Buccaneers in 2022. Despite facing later setbacks, including a hip injury in late 2024 and a release from Atlanta in 2025, Koo continued to find opportunities, including stints with the New York Giants and the New York Jets. His journey remains a significant chapter in NFL history as only the fourth player born in South Korea to play in the league.
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