Minnesota Kicker Signs with Falcons
Dustin Baker
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Fifteen months ago, the Atlanta Falcons signed kicker Younghoe Koo to a mammoth-for-a-kicker deal containing five years and $24.3 million.
But it’s the more, the merrier — evidently — for Atlanta because the club added Minnesota Golden Gophers kicker Matthew Trickett on Friday for three years.
Minnesota Kicker Signs with Falcons
Trickett shouldn’t threaten Koo’s job, but he has stability through the 2025 season.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport announced the transaction, “After working out at mandatory minicamp, the Falcons are signing former Minnesota kicker Matthew Trickett to a 3-year contract, source said. He can take some kicks off Bradley Pinion and Younghoe Koo in the preseason and ATL can work to develop him.”
The Ohio native will now likely live on the Falcons practice squad until something happens to Koo, one of the league’s best kickers.
Trickett connected on 79 of 100 field goals (79%) at the University of Minnesota and Kent State from 2018 to 2022. As a senior, he ranked third in the Big Ten last year per field goal percentage, 83.3%.
The young kicker also punted for a season at Kent State. He also played soccer in high school.
The transaction thoroughly perplexed social media users, mainly Falcons fans. One account, @yfalc0ns, tweeted, “Why are we signing a kicker for 3 years and developing him when we have Koo?”
Another fan, @tr3shon, posted, “Odd move, maybe with the kickoff rules in flux they think this signing could help them capitalize on those changes but teams don’t typically carry 3 specialists.”
Vikings Corner’s Daniel House shed some light on Gopher alumni, in general, “The Falcons signed Gophers kicker Matthew Trickett. Right now, 23 former Minnesota players are currently on an NFL roster.”
Atlanta finished the 2022 season with a 7-10 record — a decent mark with Marcus Mariota mostly at QB1 — and has high hopes with second-year passer Desmond Ridder this year. The club drafted running back Bijan Robinson in April, showcasing a blossoming three-headed monster on offense with Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts, and wide receiver Drake London.
For former Vikings players, the Falcons employ Taylor Heinicke (QB), Kyle Hinton (OG), Mike Hughes (CB), and Cordarrelle Patterson (RB).
The Vikings travel to Atlanta for a date with the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 5th.
Two former Gophers live on the Vikings current 90-man roster, Esezi Otomewo (DT) and Sam Schlueter (OL).
Former Vikings TE Done for the Year
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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