Kelce's Deleted Jab at Giants Kicker McAtamney: A Kicking Controversy Recap
Jason Kelce removed a social media post concerning New York Giants kicker Jude McAtamney, following McAtamney's dismissal from the team after he failed to convert two extra point attempts in a game versus the Denver Broncos.
“The Giants' kicker will likely be catching a budget flight home,” Kelce, aged 37, posted on X on Sunday, October 19. This message has subsequently been removed.
McAtamney, at 25 years old, was released by the Giants on Tuesday, October 21.
In the team’s intense 33-32 defeat against the Broncos last Sunday, McAtamney failed on two extra point conversions, one of which, with only 37 seconds left, could have put the Giants ahead by three points.
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Subsequently, the Broncos advanced down the field, and kicker Wil Lutz successfully converted a 39-yard field goal as the clock ran out, securing a come-from-behind win for Denver.
“I have to make those kicks,” McAtamney stated after the game. “I won't avoid accountability for that. I accept full responsibility.”
Furthermore, McAtamney also failed an extra point attempt during the Giants’ victory against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, October 9.
Originally from Ireland, McAtamney participated in college football at Rutgers University prior to joining the Giants as an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
McAtamney encountered challenges during his time playing in college, too. During his senior year at Rutgers, he lost his position as the team’s primary field goal kicker.
When NFL scouts arrived on campus to evaluate players for their possible professional careers, McAtamney initially expressed reluctance to even be present.
“Preparations had begun for the college pro day, an event where NFL teams visit your campus to observe players, and two weeks prior, I was in my New Brunswick [New Jersey] apartment. I confided in my girlfriend, saying, ‘I&m not going through with this, I simply don’t want to,’” McAtamney recounted on the BBC’s “GAA Social” podcast in February. “I had reached a point where I doubted my capabilities. Given my college career trajectory, I didn’t believe my resume was sufficient to impress NFL scouts or coaches.”
McAtamney further explained, “I was also experiencing homesickness at that time, which played a role in my thoughts and emotions.”
In the end, McAtamney gave credit to his girlfriend, Anna O’Kane, for persuading him to participate.
“She advised me to simply go through with it, suggesting I’d regret opting out,” McAtamney elaborated. “A couple of weeks later, I was in a much better frame of mind. It was a make-or-break situation. Had I not performed well that day, I wouldn’t have had a chance. Reflecting on it now, it seems foolish to have underestimated such an opportunity, but experiencing it from that viewpoint was distinct.”
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Presently, the Giants roster includes experienced kicker Younghoe Koo on their practice squad, and another veteran, Graham Gano, is cleared to rejoin the Giants’ active roster following a four-game absence due to a groin injury sustained while on injured reserve.
Gano, who is 38, sustained his injury during pre-game warmups before the team’s Week 3 defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs.
As of the time this article was published, the Giants had not yet formally named who would replace McAtamney for their upcoming game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, October 26.
