Jets fans just received another reason to root for Younghoe Koo

As of June 2, the New York Jets should absolutely want a bounce-back season from veteran kicker Younghoe Koo.

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr only sees half of that scenario happening, and it’s not an ideal one for the Jets.

Orr predicted that Koo, a former Pro Bowler with the Falcons, will “return to form” after consecutive down years. Atlanta cut Koo last September, and he’s gone only 31-of-43 (72.1%) since the start of 2024.

The problem, at least for the Jets, is that Orr believes Koo’s strong 2026 season will happen after the Jets cut him this summer.

Koo and Cade York are the only kickers on the Jets’ roster. York is 33-of-45 (73.3%) over 23 games with the Browns, Commanders, and Bengals.

Jets fans now have another reason to hope Younghoe Koo wins the kicking job

Historically speaking, many casual football fans only know their starting kicker’s name for one of two reasons.

Either the kicker in question is great at their job, or they’re occupying space on the 53-man roster that could go to someone better.

Koo might be the exception, if only because he played high school football in New Jersey after growing up in Seoul, South Korea.

As with anything else, football fans are drawn to those who are different or have unique backgrounds. Koo is far more fascinating than a random kicker from a Division II school.

Preseason kicking battles aren’t especially interesting, not unless you’re watching someone line up for a 65-yarder.

But if Koo is indeed destined to regain his old form, then the Jets should obviously want to keep him around indefinitely.

Koo made 89.9% of his field goals and 95.2% of his extra points from 2019-23, and the fact that the Jets are even giving him an opportunity means they believe he can put his recent woes behind him.

If the Jets didn’t have faith that Koo still believed in himself and had the confidence to beat out York, then he wouldn’t be on the roster.

So, yes, we should collectively be paying attention to the Jets’ kicking competition. What strange times we live in.

Then again, the thought of Koo drilling a game-winning field goal in a September upset of the Packers or Lions sure sounds nice, doesn’t it?

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