November 8, 2026. Atlanta Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals. Atlanta had entered the matchup looking to get back on track, but another disappointing performance left the team with a 34-17 loss. Yet, one of the biggest talking points from the game wasn’t just the defeat, but what happened to Nick Folk, their outstanding player whose record they had depended on. 

The Falcons had brought in the veteran kicker ahead of the 2026 season after struggling to find consistency at the position over the previous two years. And Folk seemed like the perfect answer, having maintained an extraordinary streak of 107 consecutive successful field goals from inside 40 yards. But things haven’t gone according to plan. The 42-year-old had already struggled throughout the season, converting just 72% of his field-goal attempts, a significant drop from the 95%+ accuracy he had maintained over the previous three seasons. And things got worse against Cincinnati.

Folk missed a 38-yard field goal, not only bringing his remarkable streak to an end but also adding to Atlanta’s growing kicking concerns. And so, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons have released Folk following Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

The missed attempt came with 11:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, with Atlanta trailing 31-17. The Falcons had reached Cincinnati’s 10-yard line, but a holding penalty against tight end Kyle Pitts pushed them back to the 20. Michael Penix Jr. was unable to gain any yards on the following play, leaving Folk with a 38-yard attempt on fourth-and-12. He pulled it wide left, handing possession back to Cincinnati.

The three points would have reduced the deficit to 11, keeping Atlanta within two scores. Instead, the Bengals put together a 23-yard drive and added Evan McPherson’s 43-yard field goal to extend their lead to 34-17. Folk’s miss therefore cost Atlanta an opportunity to get back into the game, although it wasn’t the only reason for the defeat.

Following the game, Coach Stefanski addressed the missed field goal attempt and noted:

“I expect Nick to make his kicks. Nick expects to make his kicks. … He knows we’re counting on him.”

Stefanski’s comments made it clear that the expectation hadn’t changed despite Folk’s difficult season. However, the Falcons ultimately decided that his overall performance was no longer good enough. The decision was announced on November 11, with Atlanta signing Jake Moody to replace him.

The Falcons signed Folk to a two-year, $9 million contract ahead of the 2026 season after an unstable special teams performance last season. For broader context, the 2025 season marked the first time in franchise history that three different Falcons kickers each made at least one field goal in the same season: Younghoe Koo, John Parker Romo, and Zane Gonzalez.

The instability had already become a concern in 2024. Younghoe Koo struggled before an injury opened the door for Riley Patterson, who also failed to provide a reliable alternative. The Falcons then turned to John Parker Romo, who made all five of his field-goal attempts in his debut but later missed a game-tying extra point against New England. Zane Gonzalez eventually took over and offered some stability, but Atlanta had now gone through three kickers in a single season.

Gonzalez finished his stint with a respectable record, including a perfect run from 40-49 yards. However, the repeated changes and costly misses had made it clear that Atlanta needed a more dependable option. That led the Falcons to sign Nick Folk ahead of the 2026 season.

The move made sense at the time. Folk had been one of the NFL’s most accurate kickers over the previous three seasons, finishing each above 95% and converting 78 of his 81 field-goal attempts. His 2025 campaign with the New York Jets was particularly impressive, as he missed just one attempt all season. Atlanta wasn’t simply bringing in a veteran to compete for the job; it was signing someone with a proven record of consistency.

But that reliability disappeared this season. Through nine games, Folk had converted just 13 of his 18 field-goal attempts. He missed twice in Week 1, followed by a 53-yarder in Week 2, another long attempt against Tampa Bay and, most recently, the 38-yarder against Cincinnati. His struggles were particularly noticeable from long range, where he had made only one of four attempts between 50 and 59 yards.

That was a sharp departure from his previous form. Folk had made 18 kicks from 50 yards or beyond over the preceding three seasons, but Atlanta was no longer getting that same level of reliability. Even more concerning was the fact that his struggles had extended to a range where he had rarely missed before.

The Bengals game ended a remarkable streak for Folk. He had converted 107 consecutive regular-season field-goal attempts from inside 40 yards, dating back to October 2017. According to the Falcons, it was the longest streak of its kind in the previous 40 years. The miss was particularly surprising given that, across his 18-season career, Folk had finished with a field-goal percentage below 75% only twice. His performance in 2026 was a significant departure from the consistency that had made him such an attractive signing in the first place.

However, the Falcons have now signed another kicker after parting ways with Nick Folk.

Falcons Turn to Jake Moody After Nick Folk’s Disappointing Season

Atlanta has brought in Jake Moody. A former third-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2023 NFL Draft, Moody spent time with multiple teams, including the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Falcons.

Moody’s time in Chicago could be particularly relevant to why Atlanta considered him a suitable replacement. In October 2025, he was elevated for the Bears’ Week 6 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Moody made four of five field-goal attempts, with his only miss coming on a blocked kick. The performance set a Bears franchise record for the most successful field goals by a kicker in his debut.

There is also a connection to Atlanta’s front office. Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham was Chicago’s assistant general manager when Moody made that appearance. The Falcons’ official report noted that Moody had made an impression during his time with the Bears, suggesting that his selection wasn’t based solely on his availability after Baltimore released him from its practice squad.

Moody’s NFL career, however, has also included its share of inconsistency. He made 21 of 25 field goals (84%) during his rookie season with San Francisco in 2023 and earned a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. But he converted only 24 of 34 attempts in 2024. After making just one of three attempts in the 49ers’ 2025 season opener, he was waived by the franchise.

His most recent appearance before joining Atlanta came with Baltimore against Jacksonville on November 5. Despite the Ravens’ 33-10 defeat, Moody converted a 53-yard field goal in rainy conditions and made his extra point. It was a useful demonstration of his long-range ability, although one successful kick isn’t enough to establish that his previous inconsistencies are behind him.

Across four seasons, he has converted 78.3% of field goal attempts and is now expected to bring stability to the Falcons’ special teams. With Folk now gone and Moody taking over, the Falcons are once again hoping they have finally found a reliable answer at kicker. After cycling through multiple options in 2025 and seeing Folk struggle in 2026, Atlanta’s search for stability on special teams continues.

Stefanski also addressed how the organisation arrived at the decision to sign Moody, explaining that the evaluation involved discussions between himself, Cunningham, team president Matt Ryan and special teams coach Craig Aukerman.

“Nick Folk is an outstanding human being — the best. I have enjoyed being around him. I have enjoyed picking his brain on football, but just felt like this was the best thing for our football team in this moment.”

Stefanski added that the coaching staff reviewed Moody’s film, including his performances before and after entering the NFL. The move, therefore, was an organisational decision based on its evaluation of Moody rather than simply an emergency signing.