Jude McAtamney Bio
Jude McAtamney is a professional placekicker from Northern Ireland who has competed at the highest levels of gridiron football in North America. Standing 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighing around 215 lb (98 kg), he originally rose to prominence as a Gaelic footballer before switching sports and earning college opportunities in the United States. McAtamney signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2024, became an active member of their special teams units, and later joined the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in 2026.
Early Life and Background
Jude McAtamney was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, and grew up in the nearby village of Swatragh. His grandfather, Harry Cassidy, was a Gaelic footballer for, and later manager of, Bellaghy GAC and the Derry county football team, embedding the sport deeply in the family. McAtamney played Gaelic football alongside his six brothers and progressed to the Derry under-20 football team, helping them capture the Ulster Under-20 Football Championship in 2018.
McAtamney attended St Patrick’s College, Maghera, for his secondary education before studying for two years at St Mary’s University College, Belfast. During this period, his connection to Gaelic football remained strong even as his interest in kicking eventually drew him toward the American game.
Path to American Football
In May 2020, McAtamney became interested in American football after seeing Irish punter David Shanahan accept an athletic scholarship to play for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He purchased equipment on eBay and began practising at a local Gaelic football pitch. After connecting with Shanahan, McAtamney was referred to ProKick Australia, a respected development program for college punters and placekickers.
COVID-19 travel restrictions initially prevented him from attending ProKick in person, so coaches arranged alternative training with former NFL punter Tom Hackett in Serbia in January 2021. After weeks of focused practice, McAtamney returned to Swatragh and by June 2021 was making field goals from beyond 60 yards. That progress earned him a scholarship offer from the Chowan Hawks of Chowan University, an NCAA Division II program in North Carolina, in July 2021.
Jude McAtamney Career
College Career (2021–2023)
McAtamney joined the Chowan Hawks in 2021 and quickly established himself as their placekicker. In his debut season, he appeared in nine games, converting 6 of 10 field goal attempts and all 47 extra-point tries while producing 19 touchbacks on 60 kickoffs. The performance earned him an invitation to train with ProKick Australia during the 2022 off-season before entering the NCAA transfer portal.
He transferred to the FBS-level Rutgers Scarlet Knights, where he won the starting placekicker role. In his first season at Rutgers, McAtamney went 12 of 18 on field goals, with a long of 49 yards, and 23 of 24 on extra points across 12 games, finishing as the team’s leading scorer with 59 points. In his final college year, he lost field-goal duties to Jai Patel after missing a single attempt, but he remained the kickoff specialist and set a team record with 40 touchbacks on 60 kickoffs.
New York Giants Era (2024–2025)
After an impressive pro day, McAtamney was invited to try out for the New York Giants, converting all ten of his kicks in front of scouts. Although he went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Giants signed him as an undrafted free agent and allocated him an exempt/international roster spot through the International Player Pathway Program. After developing on the practice squad, he was elevated to the active roster and made his NFL debut against the Washington Commanders on 3 November 2024, hitting an extra point and a 31-yard field goal.
McAtamney signed a reserve/future contract on 6 January 2025 to remain with the Giants. On 26 August 2025, he was waived as part of final roster cuts, but the team re-signed him to the practice squad a day later. Following an injury to Graham Gano on 27 September, McAtamney was promoted to the active roster and signed on 9 October. In a Week 7 loss to the Denver Broncos, he missed two extra points, including one late in the fourth quarter, and was waived on 21 October. The Giants brought him back to the practice squad before releasing him on 24 November 2025.
Calgary Stampeders (2026–Present)
McAtamney’s next opportunity came north of the border when the Calgary Stampeders selected him in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2026 CFL Global Draft. He signed with Calgary on 2 May 2026 and currently serves as their placekicker, bringing a powerful left leg and an international background to the Canadian Football League.
Notable Events and Milestones
McAtamney’s debut field goal for the Giants came from 31 yards against Washington in November 2024, marking his first points in the NFL. He was also part of a memorable Week 7 contest against Denver in 2025, in which his missed extra point with 37 seconds left allowed the Broncos to kick a winning field goal as time expired. His first-round selection by Calgary in the 2026 CFL Global Draft represented another milestone as one of the higher-profile international kickers to transition to the Canadian league.
Jude McAtamney Career Wins
Across his professional career to date, McAtamney has produced steady production as both a placekicker and kickoff specialist. In limited NFL action with the New York Giants he converted all three of his field goal attempts and ten of thirteen extra points, scoring 19 total points while showing the range to reach 31 yards. His arrival in Calgary gives him a chance to expand those totals significantly in the Canadian Football League.
NFL Highlights
McAtamney’s most notable NFL moments came during the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Giants. His debut performance against Washington delivered his first field goal and first extra point in the league, while his role as the team’s primary kickoff specialist helped the Giants win the field-position battle on several occasions. The dramatic Week 7 game against Denver also stands out, illustrating both the pressure and the opportunity that come with handling late-game kicking duties in the NFL.
Other Performances
Before turning professional, McAtamney starred in the Ulster Under-20 Football Championship with Derry GAA in 2018 and posted record-setting numbers as a kickoff specialist at Rutgers. His college highlights at Chowan and Rutgers, combined with his professional stints in New York and Calgary, form the foundation of a still-developing kicking career.
Jude McAtamney Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
McAtamney comes from a family with deep roots in Gaelic football in County Londonderry. His grandfather, Harry Cassidy, was a Gaelic footballer and manager for Bellaghy GAC and the Derry county team, and McAtamney grew up playing the sport with his six brothers in the village of Swatragh.
Personal Life
McAtamney continues to identify strongly with his Northern Irish upbringing and his Gaelic football roots, even as his professional path has taken him across the Atlantic. Public details about his personal relationships and family life outside of football remain limited.
2025 Season Performance
McAtamney entered the 2025 season looking to build on his late-2024 NFL debut with the Giants. After surviving initial roster cuts on the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster when veteran kicker Graham Gano went down with an injury in late September. He handled place-kicking and kickoff duties across multiple games, finishing the year with three made field goals on three attempts and a long of 31 yards.
Despite his accuracy on field goals, extra-point reliability became a storyline during the middle of the season, particularly in the narrow Week 7 loss to Denver. That performance contributed to his being waived in October, although the Giants continued to value his leg on the practice squad. His release in late November opened the door for the next chapter of his career.
With a strong professional track record and a left leg capable of reaching well beyond 50 yards, McAtamney enters the post-2025 period as an intriguing international kicking prospect. His first-round selection in the 2026 CFL Global Draft and subsequent signing with the Calgary Stampeders position him for a leading role in the Canadian Football League and a potential return to the NFL down the line.