John Parker Romo, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
When the Minnesota Vikings host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football Kirk Cousins will be in attendance. Of course he’ll be holding the clipboard for Michael Penix Jr. Cousins isn’t the only former player to wear purple though.
Last season John Parker Romo thought he was going to have a legitimate chance at the kicker job. Will Reichard was drafted though, and he quickly established himself as a star. Parker Romo never got a chance and left angry about the situation.
When Reichard was hurt later in the season, Minnesota brought him back. It was brief and then he landed with the Patriots. Now he’s got a new employer.
John Parker Romo to kick against Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo entered his seventh season with the Atlanta Falcons. He flamed out quickly with the Los Angeles Chargers before establishing himself in Atlanta. This season, despite his veteran status, he missed a Week 1 kick and lost his job.
Falcons ruled out kicker Younghoe Koo for Sunday night's matchup with the Minnesota Vikings and listed his reason for downgraded as not injury related.
Falcons also promoted kicker Parker Romo to kick Sunday night vs. the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/ZIt4Rbr068
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2025
Koo isn’t injured. but his pride may be. He has been demoted from the starting job and now Parker Romo will kick against his former employer.
The Atlanta Falcons have benched their longtime kicker. The team announced Saturday that kicker Younghoe Koo has been downgraded to out for Sunday night’s game at the Minnesota Vikings.
Koo missed a 44-yard field goal in the closing seconds last week that would have tied the Falcons’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 23. Koo made 2 of 3 field goals against the Bucs, but one caromed off the right upright. Koo being ruled out is not injury related.
Koo, who missed time last season because of a hip injury, is just 12-of-20 on field goals over his past nine games. Koo, 31, missed nine field goals last year, making just 73.5%, his worst percentage since becoming a full-time kicker with Atlanta in 2019.
Marc Raimondi – ESPN
As ESPN’s Marc Raimondi notes, this isn’t injury related. Koo has struggled for some time now, and the Falcons aren’t taking any chances. Parker Romo has had success in the XFL, and Atlanta is hoping he can parlay the brief experience with Minnesota into more of that on Sunday.
In four games last season for Minnesota, Parker Romo made 11-of-12 field goals. He also hit on 7-of-8 extra points. The Central Arkansas, Tulsa, and Virginia Tech product is looking for an opportunity to establish himself as a regular in the NFL.
Related: Three Keys for Minnesota Vikings Against Atlanta on Sunday Night
It will be interesting to watch him against the organization that sent him packing. Parker Romo and the Falcons will kick off against Minnesota on Sunday at 7:20 pm.
Mentioned in this article: John Parker Romo Younghoe Koo More About:Minnesota Vikings