The Atlanta Falcons were coming into Week 2 of the 2025 NFL regular season off a brutal loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime with a last-second field goal attempt, the Falcons could not convert and came away with a 23-20 loss to start the first full season of Michael Penix Jr. as a starter.
Facing off against a Minnesota Vikings team that won a thriller of their own, the one major change for the Atlanta roster was at the kicker position. Former Pro Bowler Younghoe Koo was replaced by Parker Romo, whose admission proved to be immediately beneficial.
Connecting on five field goal attempts, it was an excellent first outing for the youngster. He certainly earned himself a name in the locker room, even though he might not be very familiar with the people in it.
Parker Romo Is Still Learning the Ropes of the Falcons Locker Room
Koo was a member of the Atlanta roster since 2019, even earning a Pro Bowl spot in 2020 after leading the league in scoring with 144 points. However, his efficiency, particularly from above 40 yards, had taken a major hit since 2022.
After he missed the game-tying attempt against the Buccaneers, they opted for a change in personnel by benching their longtime starter. In his absence, it was Romo, who had previously split time between the NFL and the XFL, who got the nod.
Primarily assigned to practice squads in the league, he got his first action last year as a member of his opponent on Sunday. However, his tenure with the team did not last long, as they went back to Will Reichard.
This year, he was signed by Atlanta on September 9, before getting his first start five days later. The game turned out to be an electric affair for the youngster, as he recorded five field goals on the night.
However, the best moment of the night came during an interview on the sideline. Sharing the spotlight with Bijan Robinson and former Super Bowl champion and linebacker Leonard Floyd, he was asked about his new teammates.
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Being completely honest, he mentioned that he only knew the superstar running back. As it drew laughter from everyone involved, the two shared an impromptu handshake while exchanging a customary “nice to meet you,” with beaming smiles.
Falcons signed Parker Romo like a week ago, and he didn’t know Leonard Floyd so @melissastark introduced them to each other during the post-game interview 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/J5yoZLqcGi
— Im not a fan of your favorite team (@fsh733) September 15, 2025
Recording their first win of the season in a tough game against the Vikings, it was a gritty effort from the Falcons that saw them win 22-6. However, that final score did not fully reveal how close the game was for most of the night.
Ultimately, Romo was a major difference maker, as he kickstarted a new era in Atlanta.
