Former Falcons kicker attempting NFL comeback at Saints minicamp

Here's another veteran free agent trying out at the upcoming New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp. Former Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo has been invited to show what he can do, along with former Texas Longhorns specialist Mason Shipley, who the Saints signed as a rookie free agent after the 2026 draft. While these two-day practice sessions are aimed at helping rookies experience life in the NFL, teams are allowed to invite a handful of veteran free agents, too.

Koo, 31, became a fan favorite in Atlanta after he led the NFL with 37 field goals and a Pro Bowl nod in 2020. But his performance fell off in the years that followed, and the Falcons let him go after just one game last season. He appeared in five matchups with the New York Giants but was let go in mid-December. An immigrant from South Korea, Koo played high school football in New Jersey and went to college at Georgia Southern before turning pro.

Now he's giving it another go. Koo only connected on six of nine field goal tries last season (66.7%) but he's got a strong hit rate of 85.3% in his career. If he can show the coaches something this weekend it could lead to a longer look over the summer. Incumbent kicker Charlie Smyth is under contract, and so is rookie free agent Mason Shipley, but neither of them have done enough so far to keep the Saints from going in another direction. Stay tuned.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Ex-Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo attempts NFL comeback at Saints tryout