Younghoe Koo’s duffed field-goal attempt is going to go down as one of the worst lowlights of the dreadful 2025 New York Giants season.
But the veteran kicker explained how he stubbed the turf at Gillette Stadium and missed the ball entirely during a potentially game-altering kick in the first half of New York’s 33-15 loss to the New England Patriots.
Koo, who of course is kicking in place of the injured Graham Gano, made his lone PAT but did not get credit for a field-goal attempt in the game despite lining up for a 46-yard kick that could have cut the New England lead to 17-10 in the second quarter.
The Giants fell to 2-11 and lost their seventh straight game, dropping interim coach Mike Kafka to 0-3 since he replaced previous coach Brian Daboll, who was fired Nov. 10 after New York’s loss to the Chicago Bears.
Younghoe Koo: ‘The Ball Was Moving’ As I Tried To Kick It
After spotting the Patriots a 17-0 first-quarter lead — which included a different special-teams gaffe, a 94-yard punt return for touchdown from Marcus Jones — the Giants cut the advantage to 17-7 on Darius Slayton’s 30-yard touchdown catch from Jaxson Dart.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Giants were on the move to cut further into the New England lead when their drive stalled at the Patriots 29-yard line — after a near-acrobatic catch from tight end Theo Johnson on third and 10.
Holder Jamie Gillan appeared to catch the snap and spot it properly, but Koo seemed to come up short on the ball — stubbing his toe on the turf.
But Gillan lost control of the hold before gathering it too late, and after the game Koo confirmed that was what happened.
âI was approaching the ball, and cold weather, the ball kind of slipped out at the bottom so it was moving,â Koo said. âI wasnât able to kick through the ball. The ball was moving when I was driving to it, so I just pulled up on it.
âJamie did a good job of catching it and putting it back, but at that point, it was too late.”
Gillan pulled out, presumably calling “fire” and was sacked for a loss of 13 yards. The Patriots took the ensuing drive 58 yards on five plays, capped by Drake Maye’s 33-yard TD pass to Kyle Williams, and never looked back.
Danny DeVito’s Reaction To Younghoe Koo’s Miss Was Hilarious
As luck would have it, one of the funniest Giants fans on the planet was on the ManningCast on ESPN2, and his reaction to Koo’s duff was, predictably, hilarious.
“What the hell was that?” DeVito said after watching the replay. “Oh my God.”
DeVito, the diminutive TV star who joins former Giants quarterback Eli Manning in commercials for Jersey Mike’s subs, was born in Neptune, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Asbury Park.
DeVito, who just turned 81 last month, spoke for all Giants fans watching when he said he had “never seen that before.” Yet, somehow Koo’s missed attempt seemed like the perfect metaphor for the lost Giants season.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Giants Kicker Younghoe Koo Explains How He Missed Ball on Botched Kick appeared first on Heavy Sports.