GAA footballer Jude McAtamney signs for New York Giants

Former Derry Under-20 footballer Jude McAtamney has signed with the New York Giants.

The kicker joined the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent. He has been based in the US in recent years and recently graduated from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

The NFL draft took place in Detroit last weekend with all 32 teams picking the next generation of players. McAtamney held a pre-draft visit with the New York Giants and the New York Jets but did not declare for the NFL draft. He went through the free agency process instead.

He will now battle it out for a starting spot as the New York Giants’ kicker. McAtamney, from Swatragh, Co Derry, is set compete for the place of Giants veteran Graham Gano, who missed the end of last season due to knee surgery.

Jude McAtamney #93 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights is congratulated by Adam Korsak #94 after kicking an extra point during a college football game against the Wagner Seahawks at SHI Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey

NFL teams can have off-season rosters of up to 90 players but these must be cut to 53 by the end of pre-season. Teams also have practice squads of up to 16 players but only retain one kicker.

McAtamney was once considered a talented GAA prospect and won an Ulster title with the Derry U20s in 2018. He played 25 games in two seasons with the Division I Rutgers Scarlet Knights after a year at Division II Chowan University in North Carolina.

In his first year with Rutgers, who play in the prestigious Big 10 conference, McAtmaney scored 12/18 field-goal attempts (longest 49 yards) and completed 23/24 extra-point attempts.

McAtamney is the third Irishman to join an NFL franchise this season.

Dan Whelan, from Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, plays for the Green Bay Packers while Charlie Smyth, from Co Down, signed a three-year deal to become a kicker with the New Orleans Saints.

Goalkeeper Rory Beggan of Monaghan, Connacht rugby player Darragh Leader and Wicklow footballer Mark Jackson also attended the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and remain hopeful of earning NFL contracts.

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