Jason Kelce has taken down a tweet aimed at Jude McAtamney, the New York Giants kicker who was released after a lackluster performance against the Denver Broncos. The tweet, which suggested McAtamney would be flying home on Southwest Airlines, was posted on October 19 but has since been removed.
McAtamney, 25, faced the consequences of his missed opportunities during the Giants' narrow 33-32 defeat to the Broncos. He failed to convert two extra points, including a critical attempt with just 37 seconds left that could have secured a three-point lead for his team.
As the game unfolded, the Broncos capitalized on McAtamney's errors, with kicker Wil Lutz sealing the victory with a 39-yard field goal as time expired. Reflecting on his performance, McAtamney stated, “Got to make the kicks. Not gonna shy away from that. I’ll take full responsibility.”
This was not McAtamney's first struggle; he also missed an extra point in a previous game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 9. Originally from Ireland, he played college football at Rutgers University before joining the Giants as an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
His journey has been fraught with challenges. During his final year at Rutgers, he lost his position as the team's field goal kicker. When NFL scouts were scheduled to visit, McAtamney felt overwhelmed and considered skipping the pro day altogether. “I was at a point where I didn’t think I could,” he recounted in an interview. “How my college career went, I didn’t think on paper it was good enough to impress NFL scouts or coaches.”
His girlfriend, Anna O’Kane, played a pivotal role in encouraging him to participate. “She told me to just do it, that I’d regret not doing it,” he explained. Ultimately, he attended and performed well enough to keep his professional aspirations alive.
The Giants are currently relying on veteran kicker Younghoe Koo on their practice squad while Graham Gano is set to return after recovering from a groin injury that sidelined him for four games. Gano sustained the injury during warmups before a Week 3 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
As of now, the Giants have not announced who will replace McAtamney for their upcoming game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 26.
