Younghoe Koo’s Wild Whiff: A Monday Night Misfire That Defied Explanation
Monday Night Football had all the usual storylines-two legacy franchises in the Giants and Patriots, a chilly late-season showdown, and playoff implications on the line. But what no one saw coming was one of the most bizarre special teams moments in recent memory, courtesy of Giants kicker Younghoe Koo.
Let’s set the scene: The Giants line up for a routine field goal attempt. Koo steps into his approach, the timing looks clean, the snap is good, the hold is down… and then, nothing.
Koo plants his plant foot, swings through-and completely misses the ball. Not a shank.
Not a block. Not even a tip.
Just a full-on whiff, like a golfer topping a drive and watching it roll five feet off the tee.
And just like that, what should have been three points turned into a 13-yard loss and a statistical oddity. Because Koo never made contact with the ball, the play doesn’t even go down as a missed field goal.
Officially, it’s recorded as a sack on holder Jamie Gillan. That’s right-the punter took the L in the box score.
A Season Gone Sideways
For Koo, the moment was more than just a blooper reel staple-it was the latest twist in a season that’s been anything but smooth. Once one of the most reliable legs in the league, Koo’s journey in 2025 has been a rollercoaster. After being cut by the Falcons earlier this year in favor of a replacement who didn’t even last two months, Koo found himself bouncing back into the league via the Giants' practice squad.
After Graham Gano went down with an injury, Koo was elevated to the active roster. He’s been solid in limited action-6-for-7 on field goals, 9-for-10 on extra points, with a long of 44 yards-but Monday night’s miss might overshadow all of that.
The Internet Reacts-Of Course
As you’d expect, social media didn’t hold back. NFL fans, analysts, and fellow athletes alike lit up Twitter (or X, if we’re being technical) with reactions ranging from disbelief to comedy gold.
Some likened the moment to a golf swing gone wrong. Others joked that Koo was protecting his field goal percentage by not attempting the kick at all-“Chess, not checkers,” as one user quipped. Comparisons were drawn to Dan Orlovsky’s infamous end zone safety, with one tweet calling it “the kicker version of running out the back of the end zone.”
And then there were the jokes that strayed into the absurd-gambling references, meme-worthy video edits, and plenty of “what did I just watch?” reactions from stunned fans and media alike.
What’s Next for Koo?
Despite the viral moment, it’s worth remembering that Koo is still a talented kicker with a strong track record. He’s hit 86% of his career field goals and has shown the mental toughness to bounce back from previous setbacks-including being cut by the Chargers back in 2017 and grinding his way back to relevance with the Falcons.
Now with the Giants, he’s on a one-year deal worth $1.255 million. Whether this moment becomes a footnote or a turning point remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: NFL kickers operate in a pressure cooker, and even the steadiest legs can slip-sometimes literally.
Final Word
You can break down offensive schemes, analyze blitz pickups, and dig into quarterback reads all day, but sometimes, football reminds us of its unpredictability in the most human way possible. Younghoe Koo’s Monday night misfire wasn’t just a missed kick-it was a moment that left fans, players, and analysts alike scratching their heads.
In a league where every inch matters, sometimes the most unforgettable plays are the ones where the ball doesn’t even move.