Derryman McAtamney set to start for New York Giants

The opportunity of a lifetime has arrived for Derry’s Jude McAtamney.

The Swatragh man is expected to make his first regular season start on Sunday for the New York Giants.

McAtamney will join Daniel Whelan as an active player in the league – and make history in the process as the first player from Co Derry to play in a regular season NFL game.

A former Derry Under-20 Gaelic footballer, McAtamney won an Ulster title in 2020, before moving to the United States to play with Rutgers University.

McAtamney recently graduated from Rutgers in New Jersey, where he was an honours student majoring in labour and employment relations.

In his first season with Rutgers, McAtamney made 12 out of 18 field goal attempts, with his longest attempt from 49 yards, as well as making 23 out of 24 extra-point attempts.

Earlier in the season, the opportunity was closer than originally thought. Starting kicker for the New York Giants Graham Gano was ruled out for a number of weeks after injuring his hamstring in the Giants’ loss against the Washington Commanders, after injuring himself during the opening kickoff, with punter Jamie Gillian filling in on the day as McAtamney was not active.

The Giants opted to sign a kicker externally, adding Greg Joseph to their roster.

In his second year at Rutgers, the Swatragh man was used primarily on kick-offs, making a school record 40 touchbacks during the season.

McAtamney impressed during a pro day with the Giants and was signed as part of the International Player Pathway, which allows international players to be part of a team for up to a period of three years. Down’s Charlie Smyth of the New Orleans Saints is in a similar position, awaiting his chance.

Now it seems McAtamney has an open opportunity in New York. The Commanders have been a surprise package in the league this season and it will prove to be a tricky matchup for the Giants at Metlife Stadium.

If McAtamney can impress, the world is his oyster, with a potential start in Munich next weekend in the Allianz Arena, when the Giants face the Carolina Panthers in the final international game of the season.