Younghoe Koo has been the primary kicker for the Atlanta Falcons since the 2019 NFL season. The Falcons may be in the process of changing that arrangement.

Koo won’t be on the field when the Falcons take on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season. Instead, Parker Romo will get a chance to kick after being elevated from Atlanta’s practice squad.

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Here’s what to know about Koo’s benching and why the Falcons are making a change at kicker.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

1 / 4

Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: The New England Patriots’ Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.

Where is Younghoe Koo?

Koo is a healthy scratch for the Falcons’ Week 2 game against the Vikings. Atlanta elevated Parker Romo, who signed with the team Tuesday, from the practice squad to kick for them in the 31-year-old’s stead.

Koo remains on the Falcons’ 53-man roster but did not travel with the team to Minnesota.

Koo’s benching comes after he missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal in the final seconds of regulation in Atlanta’s 23-20 Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The miss came on the heels of a 2024 NFL season that saw Koo miss time with a hip injury and make just 73.5% of his field goals, his worst mark since he made 50% of his kicks in four games with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017.

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It isn’t clear whether Koo’s benching is temporary or if Romo will have a chance to lock down the job long-term with a strong performance Sunday.

Who is the Falcons kicker?

Parker Romo is the Falcons’ new kicker for their Week 2 game against the Vikings. Atlanta is the sixth team the 28-year-old has kicked for since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech in 2022.

Romo has only kicked in four regular-season games, all of which came with the Vikings in 2024. He made 11 of his 12 field goal attempts with a long of 55 yards.

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Romo spent the 2025 offseason compete with Andy Borregales for the New England Patriots’ kicking job. The sixth-round rookie won the job, so Romo was released as part of the team’s final cuts.

Romo also kicked for the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in 2023. He made 17 of 19 field goals across 10 games.

Is Parker Romo related to Tony Romo?

For those wondering, Parker Romo is not related to Tony Romo. They simply share a last name.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where is Younghoe Koo? Why Parker Romo is kicking for Falcons