New York Giants kicker Jude McAtamney has admitted he almost did not attend the Rutgers University pro day that ended up landing him a chance to kick in the National Football League (NFL).
The former Derry GAA underage goalkeeper from Swatragh kicked a field goal and extra point from two attempts in his NFL debut against the Washington Commanders in November.
He joined the franchise as an undrafted free agent after three years in college, the first at Chowan University in North Carolina before a further two at Rutgers.
In his final season at the New Jersey school, however, he was no longer the team’s primary field goal kicker.
With that demotion a “bitter pill to swallow”, McAtamney needed convinced to keep chasing his NFL dream.
“The preparations had started for the college pro day, where NFL teams come to your school to watch you, and two weeks before, I was sitting in my apartment in New Brunswick,” McAtamney told the GAA Social, BBC NI’s Gaelic Games podcast.
“I said to my girlfriend, ‘I’m not going to do this, I just don’t want to.’
“I was at a point where I didn’t think I could. How my college career went, I didn’t think on paper it was good enough to impress NFL scouts or coaches.”
Ultimately, it was McAtamney’s girlfriend who convinced him to attend.
“I was missing home at that point too which influenced how I was thinking and feeling,” he added.
“She told me to just do it, that I’d regret not doing it. Fast forward two weeks and I was in a good space.
“It was do or die. If I didn’t kick well that day I wouldn’t have had a shot.
“Looking back now, you’d be so stupid to take that opportunity for granted but being on the other side of it was a different perspective.”
Listen to the GAA Social here, where McAtamney talks about his journey from Swatragh to Giants Stadium.
