Jude McAtamney

Jude McAtamney Bio

Jude McAtamney is a professional gridiron football placekicker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He previously played for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, McAtamney was originally a Gaelic footballer before transitioning to American football. He played college football at Chowan University and Rutgers University before signing with the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2024. McAtamney represents a rare pathway from Gaelic football to the NFL, having followed in the footsteps of Irish players who found opportunities through the International Player Pathway Program.

Early Life and Background

Jude McAtamney was born on 9 May 2000 in Derry, Northern Ireland, and grew up in the village of Swatragh. His grandfather, Harry Cassidy, was a Gaelic footballer for and manager of Bellaghy GAC and the Derry county football team. McAtamney played Gaelic football alongside his six brothers and represented Derry GAA at the under-20 level, helping the team capture the Ulster Under-20 Football Championship in 2018. He attended St Patrick’s College in Maghera and later studied for two years at St Mary’s University College, Belfast.

Path to American Football

In May 2020, McAtamney discovered American football after noticing Irish punter David Shanahan accept a scholarship to play at Georgia Tech. He purchased equipment on eBay and began practicing at a local Gaelic football field. McAtamney reached out to Shanahan on Twitter, who referred him to ProKick Australia, a program that develops college football punters and placekickers. Unable to travel to Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions, McAtamney trained for two weeks in Serbia in January 2021 before traveling to the United States. He worked with ProKick coaches and by June 2021 was making field goals from over 60 yards.

Jude McAtamney Career

College Football Career

In July 2021, McAtamney accepted a scholarship offer to play for the Chowan Hawks of Chowan University in North Carolina, an NCAA Division II program. In his first season, he appeared in nine games and made 6 of 10 field goal attempts while converting all 47 extra point attempts, also recording 60 kickoffs with 19 touchbacks. After the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal and continued training with ProKick Australia during the off-season.

McAtamney transferred to Rutgers University, an FBS program, and won the starting placekicker role. In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, he made 12 of 18 field goals with a long of 49 yards and converted 23 of 24 extra points in 12 games played. He was the team’s leading scorer with 59 total points and made 47 kickoffs for 2,787 yards with 17 touchbacks. In his final year, he was replaced by Jai Patel as the starting kicker but remained the kickoff specialist, posting a team record 40 touchbacks on 60 kickoffs.

New York Giants (2024–2025)

After impressing at his pro day, McAtamney was invited to try out for the New York Giants, where he made all 10 of his attempted kicks in front of scouts. He was not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft but signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent. McAtamney was assigned to the team’s exempt/international roster spot as part of the International Player Pathway Program. He was called up from the practice squad onto the active roster during the season and made his NFL debut against the Washington Commanders on 3 November 2024, kicking an extra point and a 31-yard field goal. He signed a reserve/future contract on 6 January 2025.

During the 2025 season, McAtamney was waived in August during final roster cuts before being re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in late September following an injury to Graham Gano and signed to the active roster again in October. In a Week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos, McAtamney missed two extra-point attempts, including one with 37 seconds left in the fourth quarter that would have given the Giants a three-point lead. The Giants lost 33-32 after the Broncos kicked a field goal as time expired. McAtamney was released from the Giants’ active roster later in October and rejoined the practice squad before being released in November 2025.

Calgary Stampeders (2026–Present)

McAtamney was later selected in the first round (sixth overall) by the Calgary Stampeders in the 2026 CFL Global Draft and signed with the team on 2 May 2026.

Jude McAtamney Career Statistics

Throughout his professional career, McAtamney has demonstrated reliability in field goal attempts. During his time with the New York Giants, he maintained a perfect field goal percentage. His most notable NFL performance came in his debut against Washington on 3 November 2024, where he successfully made his first career field goal attempt from 31 yards along with an extra point conversion.

Family

Family Background and Gaelic Football Lineage

McAtamney comes from a family with deep roots in Gaelic football. His grandfather, Harry Cassidy, was a prominent Gaelic footballer who played for and managed both Bellaghy GAC and the Derry county football team. Growing up in Swatragh, McAtamney was immersed in Gaelic football culture and played the sport alongside his six brothers.

Personal Life

McAtamney was raised in Northern Ireland with strong family connections to Gaelic football traditions. His background as a Gaelic footballer provided the foundation for his later transition to American football as a placekicker.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked McAtamney’s first full year with the New York Giants organization. He demonstrated consistency during training camp and the preseason, which earned him opportunities on the active roster throughout the regular season. His ability to handle both field goals and kickoffs provided special teams flexibility for the Giants coaching staff.

Despite showing promise, McAtamney experienced roster volatility during the season. He was waived during final roster cuts in late August before being re-signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster twice during the season. The Week 7 game against Denver proved challenging, as missed extra-point attempts proved costly in a narrow loss. McAtamney continued to work on his consistency throughout the season, balancing time between the active roster and practice squad.

His journey from Gaelic football fields in Northern Ireland to NFL rosters exemplifies the international pathway for players seeking to break into American football. McAtamney’s experience with the Giants provided valuable professional experience as he continued to develop his craft as a placekicker at the highest level of the sport.