FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Head coach Raheem Morris named Parker Romo the Atlanta Falcons' starting kicker on Friday ahead of their Week 3 matchup on the road against the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons then released Younghoe Koo Friday afternoon, signing Romo to the active 53-man roster.
"We're going to go with Romo," Morris said Friday. "He earned it last week going 5-for-5, and you gotta go with that again."
Morris said earlier in the week there was a 90% chance the Falcons would look to Romo in Week 3 after he went 5-for-5 in last Sunday night's win against the Minnesota Vikings. His field goal attempts included a 54-yarder.
"There's no doubt about that," Morris said Monday. "I wouldn't even sit here and ask like it's an open competition because the guy just went 5-for-5. You want to see it again. You want to see it in a different atmosphere. You want to see those all things. He did a heck of a job, and I want him to go out there and do it again."
The Falcons signed Romo to the team's practice squad during Week 2 following Younghoe Koo's missed 44-yard field goal in the final seconds of the team's Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Interestingly enough, Romo made a field goal for every full day he had been an official part of the Falcons' organization.
"Bringing in Romo and him going in to an adverse situation, going into a hostile environment and being able just to do his job and put the ball through the uprights," special teams coordinator Marquice Williams said this week. "Give Bradley (Pinion, holder) credit, and also to Liam (McCullough, long snapper). When you bring in a new kicker, the operation needs to be on point, and so we can take as much stress off the kicker as possible. And those guys did a great job, along with our O-line and our tight ends, Feleipe (Franks) and Charlie Woerner, going out there to protect and making sure we put the ball through the uprights."
Parker grew up in Peachtree City and attended McIntosh High School. The 28-year-old kicker has been in the league since 2022 and made his kicking debut in 2024. Having the opportunity to play for his hometown team is a dream come true.
"It's special," Romo said this week. "It's super special for me to be able to put on for the city of Atlanta because I spent 17 years of my life in Georgia."
Take a look at our best shots from week three practice ahead of the Sunday matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #4 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington #82 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 and Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron #65 and Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Joshua Gray #67 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #4 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts #31 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion #13 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker JD Bertrand #40 and Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Xavier Watts #31 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defense players during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. #27 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro #98 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Clark Phillips III #22 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, September 18, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
