Jude McAtamney Biography: Inspiring NFL and CFL Rise
The remarkable journey from Gaelic football in Derry to professional gridiron football
Introduction
Jude McAtamney is an Irish professional placekicker known for moving from Gaelic football to American and Canadian football.
Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, he played college football for Chowan University and Rutgers before joining the New York Giants. His journey later continued with the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League.
His story stands out because he learned a new sport, moved abroad and reached the NFL despite beginning without traditional American-football experience.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jude McAtamney |
| Date of Birth | 9 May 2000 |
| Age | 26 years old |
| Birthplace | Derry, Northern Ireland |
| Hometown | Swatragh, County Derry |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Profession | Professional football player |
| Position | Placekicker |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches |
| Weight | Around 205 pounds |
| School | St Patrick’s College, Maghera |
| Former Colleges | Chowan University and Rutgers University |
| Former NFL Team | New York Giants |
| Current Team | Calgary Stampeders |
| Current League | Canadian Football League |
| Famous For | Moving from Gaelic football to the NFL and CFL |
Who Is Jude McAtamney?
Jude McAtamney is a professional placekicker from Northern Ireland. He became recognised for taking an unusual route into elite American football.
Unlike most NFL prospects, he did not grow up playing the sport. His early experience came from Gaelic football, where kicking technique, accuracy and distance are also important.
He developed those skills further after deciding to pursue college football in the United States. His progress from a beginner to an NFL player made him one of Ireland’s most interesting modern sporting stories.
His move between different sports can also be compared with other cross-code sporting journeys, where athletes use existing skills to succeed in a new competitive environment.
Early Life in County Derry
Jude was born on 9 May 2000 in Derry, Northern Ireland. He grew up in Swatragh, a village with a strong Gaelic Athletic Association tradition.
Sport was an important part of his childhood. He reportedly played Gaelic football alongside six brothers and developed into an effective free-taker.
His grandfather, Harry Cassidy, was also connected with Derry Gaelic football as a player and manager. This sporting family background gave Jude an early understanding of competition and disciplined training.
He attended St Patrick’s College in Maghera before studying for a period at St Mary’s University College in Belfast.
Gaelic Football Background
Before becoming an American-football kicker, Jude represented Derry at under-20 level.
He helped the county win the 2018 Ulster Under-20 Football Championship. His role as a free-taker allowed him to build accuracy, composure and confidence when kicking under pressure.
Gaelic football does not use the same ball, equipment or kicking motion as American football. However, Jude already understood how to create power and control through his approach.
That foundation later helped him make one of the most unusual transitions in modern Irish sport.
Decision to Pursue American Football
Jude became seriously interested in American football in 2020 after seeing fellow Irish player David Shanahan receive a college opportunity in the United States.
He contacted Shanahan and asked how he could follow a similar path. Jude then purchased equipment and began practising on a Gaelic football field in Ireland.
He recorded videos of his kicks and shared them with people involved in specialist coaching. His efforts eventually connected him with ProKick Australia, a programme that develops kickers and punters.
The pandemic prevented him from travelling to Australia immediately. He continued working while searching for another route into US college football.
According to ESPN’s detailed feature, his preparation also included training in Serbia and working with former Utah punter Tom Hackett.
Education and Specialist Training
Jude’s education included St Patrick’s College, St Mary’s University College, Chowan University and Rutgers University.
At Rutgers, he studied Labor and Employment Relations while completing his college-football career.
His specialist training focused on field goals, extra points, kickoffs and the technical differences between Gaelic and American football.
The process required patience because he was learning rules and movements that most US kickers had practised since childhood.
His development reflects how structured football training can help talented athletes adjust to higher levels of competition.
Chowan University Career
Jude received an opportunity to join Chowan University in North Carolina for the 2021 season.
Chowan competed at NCAA Division II level, giving him a suitable place to begin his American-football career.
He appeared in nine games and converted six of his ten field-goal attempts. His longest successful field goal covered 47 yards.
Jude was perfect on extra points, making all 47 of his attempts. He also handled 60 kickoffs and recorded 19 touchbacks.
These performances proved that he could compete in the United States despite having limited experience in the sport.
Transfer to Rutgers University
After one season at Chowan, Jude entered the transfer portal and joined Rutgers University.
The move took him into the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference, where he faced stronger teams and greater public attention.
He became Rutgers’ main placekicker during the 2022 season. Jude played in all 12 games and led the team with 59 points.
He converted 12 of 18 field goals and 23 of 24 extra points. His longest field goal was 49 yards.
The official Rutgers player profile also records five successful field goals from at least 40 yards during that campaign.
Final Rutgers Season
Jude’s responsibilities changed during the 2023 season.
He was used mainly as Rutgers’ kickoff specialist and recorded 40 touchbacks from 60 kickoffs. None of his kickoffs went out of bounds.
The 40 touchbacks established a Rutgers single-season record.
He also received Academic All-Big Ten recognition and later became a member of the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.
His Rutgers period showed that a player can continue contributing even when his role within a team changes.
Signing With the New York Giants
Jude was not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, he impressed the New York Giants during a workout by successfully completing all ten of his kicks.
The Giants signed him as an undrafted free agent and included him through the NFL’s International Player Pathway programme.
Reaching an NFL organisation was a major achievement for a player who had only started learning the sport a few years earlier.
His rapid move into a demanding professional career demonstrated the value of specialist training, adaptability and confidence.
NFL Debut
Jude made his regular-season NFL debut against the Washington Commanders on 3 November 2024.
He converted a 31-yard field goal and one extra point, scoring four points for the Giants.
The appearance made him one of the small number of Irish-born athletes to score points in an NFL regular-season game.
Although New York lost the match, Jude completed every kick he attempted.
The successful debut was an important milestone in a journey that had started on local Gaelic football pitches in County Derry.
The 2025 NFL Season
Jude returned to the Giants’ organisation for the 2025 season.
Injuries affecting experienced kicker Graham Gano created further opportunities for him to join the active squad.
Across four regular-season appearances in 2025, Jude successfully converted both of his field-goal attempts. He also made nine of his 12 extra-point attempts.
His position became uncertain following a narrow defeat against the Denver Broncos in October 2025. He missed two extra points during a dramatic fourth quarter.
The Giants waived him shortly after the game. He returned to their practice squad before the team ended his contract in November 2025.
Handling Pressure and Setbacks
Placekickers often face unique pressure because one unsuccessful attempt can change the result of a close game.
Jude experienced both sides of that responsibility during his Giants career. He made every NFL field-goal attempt but struggled with extra-point consistency during part of the 2025 season.
The difficult Denver game attracted criticism, yet it represented one stage of a much larger career.
Many athletes must learn to manage career pressure and setbacks while continuing to prepare for another opportunity.
His later move to Canada showed that he was willing to rebuild rather than allow one difficult period to end his professional ambitions.
NFL Career Statistics
Across his five regular-season appearances for the Giants, Jude recorded:
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 5 |
| Field Goals Made | 3 |
| Field Goals Attempted | 3 |
| Field-Goal Percentage | 100% |
| Extra Points Made | 10 |
| Extra Points Attempted | 13 |
| Total Points | 19 |
| Longest Field Goal | 31 yards |
His perfect NFL field-goal percentage remains one of the strongest statistical details from his time in New York.
Calgary Stampeders Career
The Calgary Stampeders selected Jude with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2026 CFL Global Draft.
He later signed with the Canadian club and entered the next stage of his professional career.
The CFL uses a wider and longer field than the NFL, while its rules and kicking situations also create different challenges.
Calgary gave Jude an opportunity to apply his NFL and college experience in another major professional league.
He prepared to make his CFL debut against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in June 2026.
Playing Style and Strengths
Jude plays as a placekicker and has also worked as a kickoff specialist.
His main strengths include leg power, long-range potential and experience kicking under pressure.
The Gaelic football background helped him develop natural coordination, although he still needed extensive technical work to master American-football kicking.
His records at Chowan and Rutgers showed accuracy on extra points and value on kickoffs. His three successful NFL field goals also demonstrated control during regular-season competition.
His career belongs among other determined athlete stories built around training, travel and the ability to adapt.
Major Achievements
Jude helped Derry win the 2018 Ulster Under-20 Football Championship.
He converted all 47 extra-point attempts during his season at Chowan University.
He led Rutgers with 59 points in 2022 and recorded five field goals from 40 yards or longer.
His 40 touchbacks in 2023 established a Rutgers single-season record.
He earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition and membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society.
Jude also reached the NFL as an undrafted international player and scored on his regular-season debut.
In 2026, Calgary selected him in the first round of the CFL Global Draft.
Career Timeline
| Year | Career Event |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Born in Derry, Northern Ireland |
| 2018 | Won the Ulster Under-20 title with Derry |
| 2020 | Began pursuing American football |
| 2021 | Joined Chowan University |
| 2022 | Transferred to Rutgers University |
| 2022 | Led Rutgers with 59 points |
| 2023 | Set the Rutgers touchback record |
| 2024 | Signed with the New York Giants |
| November 2024 | Made his NFL debut |
| 2025 | Played four more NFL games |
| November 2025 | Left the Giants’ practice squad |
| April 2026 | Selected in the CFL Global Draft |
| May 2026 | Signed with the Calgary Stampeders |
| June 2026 | Entered his first CFL season |
Public Image and Work Ethic
Jude’s public image is connected mainly with hard work and sporting adaptability.
He travelled between Ireland, Serbia, Australia and the United States while learning the skills required to become a professional kicker.
His journey also required him to compete at several levels, beginning in NCAA Division II before moving to Rutgers and the NFL.
Rather than entering American football through a traditional academy system, he created opportunities through recorded training sessions, specialist coaching and direct communication.
That route has made him an example for other international athletes who hope to enter US or Canadian football.
Current Status
As of June 2026, Jude McAtamney is a professional placekicker with the Calgary Stampeders.
He is listed as a Global player because he was developed outside Canada and the United States.
His immediate challenge is to establish himself as a dependable CFL kicker and build greater consistency on field goals, converts and kickoffs.
At 26, he still has time to develop and add further achievements to an already unusual career.
7 Interesting Facts About Jude McAtamney
- He was born and raised in County Derry.
- He played Gaelic football before learning American football.
- He helped Derry win an Ulster under-20 championship.
- He began his US college career at an NCAA Division II university.
- He made every extra-point attempt during his Chowan season.
- He successfully converted all three field goals attempted during his NFL regular-season career.
- He has represented professional teams in both the NFL and CFL.
Conclusion
Jude McAtamney’s story is about ambition, adaptation and taking an unconventional route into professional sport.
He moved from Gaelic football in Derry to college football at Chowan and Rutgers. His development then earned him opportunities with the New York Giants and Calgary Stampeders.
The journey included records, academic recognition, an NFL debut and difficult career setbacks.
However, his move to the CFL opened another important chapter. His future progress will depend on consistency, confidence and his ability to adjust to Canadian football.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jude McAtamney?
He is an Irish professional placekicker who has played in the NFL and CFL.
How old is Jude McAtamney?
He is 26 years old as of June 2026.
When was Jude McAtamney born?
He was born on 9 May 2000.
Where was Jude McAtamney born?
He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland.
How tall is Jude McAtamney?
He is listed at 6 feet 2 inches tall.
Which college did Jude McAtamney attend?
He played college football for Chowan University and Rutgers University.
Did Jude McAtamney play for the New York Giants?
Yes. He appeared in five NFL regular-season games for the Giants.
Which team does Jude McAtamney play for now?
He joined the Calgary Stampeders for the 2026 CFL season.
