1. Younghoe Koo is a South Korean-American professional football placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.
27 Facts About Younghoe Koo
1. 2.
Younghoe Koo was named to the Pro Bowl in 2020 after leading the league in scoring that year.
3.
Younghoe Koo is sixth on the NFL's all-time leaderboard in field goal percentage.
4.
Younghoe Koo played four seasons of college football for the Georgia Southern Eagles and was named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2016.
5.
Younghoe Koo signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017 but was released a month into the season after missing consecutive game-ending kicks.
6.
Younghoe Koo's success led to his return to the NFL the same year with the Falcons.
7.
Younghoe Koo was born on August 3,1994, in Seoul, South Korea.
8.
Younghoe Koo played soccer growing up and won a regional kicking competition in South Korea.
9.
Younghoe Koo moved to the United States when he was 12 years old to live with his mother, who had gone to New Jersey two years earlier to work as a nurse while Koo's father remained in Seoul as a professor at Induk University.
10.
Younghoe Koo played on the football team for Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
11.
Younghoe Koo was named team MVP his senior season, contributing on both special teams and defense, where he tallied six interceptions.
12.
At Georgia Southern University, Younghoe Koo was a four-year contributor for the Eagles, earning first-team all-conference honors in the Sun Belt Conference in his final season, during which he converted 19 of 20 field goal attempts.
13.
Younghoe Koo was named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the best college kicker in the nation.
14.
Younghoe Koo signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2017 NFL draft.
15.
Younghoe Koo won the starting job over incumbent kicker Josh Lambo following the conclusion of the preseason.
16.
Younghoe Koo became the fourth player in NFL history to have been born in South Korea.
17.
An earlier attempt by Younghoe Koo was successful, but it was called off after the Broncos had called a timeout right before the snap.
18.
On January 14,2019, Younghoe Koo signed with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football.
19.
On October 29,2019, Younghoe Koo was signed by the Atlanta Falcons after they cut their longtime kicker and franchise leading scorer, Matt Bryant.
20.
Younghoe Koo was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.
21.
On February 18,2020, Younghoe Koo signed a one-year contract extension with the Falcons.
22.
Younghoe Koo became the NFL's leading scorer following Week 13, having made 32 of 33 field goals and 23 extra points for a total of 119 points.
23.
On December 20,2020, Younghoe Koo was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
24.
Younghoe Koo signed a contract extension with the Falcons on March 11,2021.
25.
On March 15,2022, Younghoe Koo signed a five-year, $24.25 million contract extension with the Falcons.
26.
Younghoe Koo was again named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his Week 16 performance against the Indianapolis Colts, going 5-for-5 on field goals.
27.
On December 18,2024, Younghoe Koo was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury.