Travis and Jason Kelce have debated who was to blame for the astonishing missed field goal that made New York Giants kicker Younghoe Koo a laughing stock in the NFL on Sunday.
Koo pulled up short and kicked the ground on his approach to a 47-yard field goal attempt for the Giants on Monday night, before they went on to suffer a bruising 33-15 defeat to the New England Patriots. At the time of his disastrous attempt, the score was close at 17-7.
As he kicked the ground, placeholder Jamie Gillan – who himself had a 94-yard kick returned for a touchdown – grabbed the ball and ran to find a receiver before being swarmed by the Patriots special team.
After the comical gaffe went viral on social media, Koo has since explained that he thought the ball was moving when Gillan was holding it, which distracted him during his run-up. He also blamed the ‘cold weather’ for the embarrassing mistake.
During the latest episode of their New Heights podcast, the Kelce brothers discussed the field-goal blunder after Gillan was nominated for their ‘Stamp of the Week’ award – which recognizes an outstanding achievement or performance – due to his impressive quick-thinking when Koo kicked the ground.
Travis and Jason Kelce have debated who was to blame for Sunday’s Giants field goal blunder
The Kelce brothers weighed in on the viral moment on their New Heights podcast this week
‘We’ve got Giants holder Jamie Gillan for making the best of whatever that was,’ Jason said when watching back the viral moment. He then argued: ‘I mean, he’s the reason that happened.’
The Philadelphia Eagles legend then explained to Travis: ‘this is the kicker who kicked the turf. The snapper, the ball slips when he puts it down and he had to readjust it and I think it spooked the kicker.
‘I do think [Koo] also just f***ed up though. Even if you see that, why do you do that?’
Travis weighed in by saying: ‘I think that lead step is just a little too far out in front of that football. Because when you get too far out in the football, now you’ve got to be steep at the ball. And I think you’ve got to bring that left hip out of there, he kept it a little too far closed in and now you’re really getting down there, you’re not allowing yourself through the ball. You want to keep that lead step even just a little bit behind so you can get through the ball.’
‘Look at how analytical you’re getting,’ Jason replied. ‘Either way, I’m not giving Jamie Stamp of the Week because it wasn’t a great hold.’
As the chaos played out on the field, cameras cut to Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart watching from the sidelines.
Dart appeared to turn away in disgust and say ‘oh my god’ as his team missed what should have been a straightforward kick to close the gap by three.
The unfortunate moment went viral across social media on another bad night for the Giants
Younghoe Koo said the weather and ball placement distracted him on his run-up to the kick
Peyton and Eli Manning were broadcasting at the time, along with Danny DeVite on their ‘ManningCast’.
‘The kicker tripped trying to kick the field goal, he tripped trying to kick the field goal,’ Peyton said, stunned. ‘I have not seen that, ever. Eli, it’s like one of your fat nine-irons you hit! It’s all grass!’
Troy Aikman, calling the game for ESPN, simply said on the commentary: ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen that!’
While Pat McAfee, an NFL punter before forging his own career in sports media, wrote on X: ‘That was a TOUGH situation for Younghoe Koo. The bottom of the football slipping is a NIGHTMARE.’