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Could Giants Host Kicking Competition in 2025?
Could Giants Host Kicking Competition in 2025? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
For a team that finished with the NFC's worst record in 2024, there aren't a ton of training camp battles for fans to monitor this summer. Rookie defensive tackle Darius Alexander will look to start from the jump, and there might be some noise at interior offensive line, but the New York Giants' lineup can comfortably be penciled in months before Week 1.
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Perhaps New York will see a competition emerge on special teams. Veteran Graham Gano dealt with injuries in an unsteady 2024 campaign, and as he enters his age-38 season, his job security appears to be less stable than in years past.
In the other corner is second-year kicker Jude McAtamney, an Irish-born, Rutgers-bred Giant who spent much of the season on the practice squad. New York is hoping to develop him into Gano's eventual replacement, and it's possible he accelerates that timeline with a strong summer.
According to Pro Football Rumors, a kicking competition could shake up the Giants' plans on special teams.
'At the moment, it looks like the job is Gano's for the taking in New York, but McAtamney continues to lurk in the background and seems to be doing enough to remain in contention,' Ely Allen wrote. 'If McAtamney can impress this summer, the combination of Gano's cap impact and his recent struggles with injury may open the door a little wider for McAtamney to kick his way through.'
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In his one-game cameo, McAtamney hit his field goal and extra point attempt.
The Giants stand to benefit from cutting Gano, too, saving $4.4 million in cap space with a $1.25 million dead cap charge (per Over the Cap).
On June 5, special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial spoke about the potential for a competition to break out on special teams.
'Absolutely. I think if you're on this roster, no matter what position you play, you're competing,' Michael Ghobrial said, via team transcript. 'You're competing to win the job. I think everybody will have a fair chance winning whatever job it is, whether it be the kicker position or any other position.
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'But I would say that Jude has shown a lot of promise even from last year kicking in a game. You obviously see the leg talent, you see the leg strength, all those things that amount to being a good kicker in this league.'
New York has kept McAtamney around for a reason, even if it's just risk-free insurance. Whether it's Week 1, a late-season contest, or sometime in 2026, the Giants are preparing for McAtamney to contribute. It's on Gano to stave him off for as long as possible.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
