Former Derry Under-20 Footballer Jude McAtamney Signs with New York Giants, Becoming Latest Irishman in NFL

Former Derry Under-20 footballer Jude McAtamney has taken a significant step in his American football career by signing with the New York Giants, becoming the latest Irishman to join an NFL franchise. McAtamney, who played two years of college football at Rutgers University in New Jersey, made the move to America in 2021 to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.

The talented kicker is now the third Irish-born player to sign with an NFL team, following in the footsteps of Charlie Smyth and Dan Whelan. McAtamney comes from a family with a strong GAA background, with his brother Conor having played for the Derry senior side and his grandfather Harry Cassidy being a former player and manager for both Derry and Bellaghy.

After a successful youth career in the GAA, McAtamney made the decision to switch to American football in 2020 after being inspired by Kerry native David Shanahan’s college football scholarship. He then connected with ProKick Australia, which helped him secure a full athletic scholarship at Chowan University in North Carolina.

McAtamney’s impressive performances at Chowan caught the attention of Rutgers University, where he excelled as a placekicker. In his time at Rutgers, he set records and earned accolades for his kicking abilities. Now, with the opportunity to compete for the Giants’ kicking job, McAtamney is poised to showcase his skills at the highest level of American football.

With the Giants looking to bolster their kicking options following Graham Gano’s struggles last season, McAtamney has a chance to make his mark in the NFL. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, the Irish kicker will undoubtedly bring his talent and determination to the gridiron, representing his home country with pride on the American football stage.