Koo Young -hoe, Kyler Head, Kyle Hamilton (from left). [로이터·AP=연합뉴스]
North America’s most popular sports, the US Pro Football (NFL) 2025 Season Regular League, will start the campaign until January next year, starting with the opening match of Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys in Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The nickname of the NFL is the contest of physical monsters. There are two meters tall giant giants and ‘human bullets’ that sell 100m in 10 seconds. There are three Korean stars in it. Kyle Hamilton (24, Baltimore Ravens), Kylar Head (27, Arizona Cardinals) and Koo Young -hoe (31, Atlanta Falcon).
Hamilton is a four -year -old Hamilton, a safety (defender) who will drive ‘Korean Power’ at Baltimore Ravens, one of the winners of the season. He has excellent tackle and passes, and he played in all 17 regular league games last season. Hamilton is a half Korean with Daegu -born mother Jackie Hamilton (Korean name Park Gye -ok). My mother married an American father, Derek Hamilton, who played as a basketball player when he studied in Greece. Hamilton values his roots. In 2022, he produced and sold his name ‘KH’ and a T -shirt and a hat with the pattern of Taegeukgi. The proceeds have been donated to the Asian anti -anti -anti -campaign in the United States.
The seven -year quota back hair is a superstar. He is famous for his ‘I Do -Ryu’ who plays baseball and football. The head was chosen by Auckland Athletics in the first round of the 2018 Major League (MLB) rookie (9th), and was named Arizona Cardinals in 2019 as the number one overall NFL rookie draft in 2019. Both MLB and NFL are the first to be selected in the first round. He has won the NFL Rookie Award in the 2019 season and has been a major quarterback. Last year, he made a large contract of up to $ 230 million (about 33.2 billion won) for five years, and the goal is to lead the team to playoffs in four years this season. The head is a quarter Korean where the grandmother is Korean. Mother Mishi, 51, wrote a Korean name (Mi -sun) before marriage. The father of baseball and football is American. The head often reveals the ‘Korean’ identity. At the press conference of the Arizona, he appeared in the Korean national soccer team uniform. His Instagram says ‘green light’ in Korean. I visited Korea last March.
The 8 -year -old kicker is not the only mixed race. Born in Seoul and immigrated to the United States in 2006, when he was twelve years old. In Korea, I dreamed of being a soccer player, but I changed my career in the United States. In 2017, he joined the Los Angeles Charse and became the first Korean national NFL player. It was released in a month and realized a high wall, but he polished for two years. Eventually, he signed a contract with Atlanta Falcon in 2019 and succeeded in re -entering NFL. From this point on, it was a success. In the 2020 season, he scored a field goal success rate of 94.9%. He was also selected for his first professional ball (All -Star) in the same season. His nickname, who succeeds in the ultra -long distance (45.7m or more) field goal with the expressionless expression of AI, is ‘Ice Man’. Koo Young -hoe aims to take the first playoff stage this season. He writes ‘Younghoe Koo’, an English notation of the Korean name, to avoid forgetting his source.
Reporter Pi Joo -young akapj@joongang.co.kr
Copyright © JoongAng Ilbo. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibition.
Key Korean-American NFL Players: A Closer Look at the “Korean Power” in the League
To further illustrate the accomplishments and impact of these athletes, let’s delve into a comparative analysis.The following table provides a comprehensive overview of key data points,offering a clear picture of each player’s achievements and contributions to the NFL.
| Player | Position | Team | Age (as of 2025 Season) | Key Achievements | korean Heritage | Noteworthy |
|—————–|—————-|———————-|————————-|———————————————————————————————————–|————————————————————————————-|—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
| Kyle Hamilton | Safety | baltimore Ravens | 24 | Excellent tackling and pass coverage; Played in all 17 regular season games in previous season. | Half-Korean (Mother born in Daegu) | Actively embraces Korean heritage; Created ‘KH’ brand and Taegeukgi-themed merchandise, donating proceeds to asian anti-hate campaigns.Represents a important impact on the Ravens’ defense. |
| Kyler Head | Quarterback | arizona Cardinals | 27 | 2019 NFL Rookie of the Year; Signed a $230 million contract; First round pick in both MLB and NFL drafts. | Quarter-Korean (Grandmother is Korean) | Demonstrates dual-sport talent; Regularly acknowledges Korean heritage; frequently enough spotted wearing Korean National soccer team apparel. Aims for playoff success wiht the Cardinals. |
| Koo Young-hoe | Kicker | Atlanta Falcons | 31 | High field goal success rate (94.9% in 2020); Selected for first Pro Bowl; “Ice Man” nickname. | Born in Seoul, immigrated to US at age 12. | Represents perseverance and success in the face of adversity.Aims to bring the Falcons to the playoffs. Uses “Younghoe Koo” to honor his roots within the sporting world. |
SEO-Friendly FAQs: Addressing common Questions
to enhance your understanding and provide further insight, here’s a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section, designed for clarity, search visibility, and reader engagement:
Q: Who are the prominent Korean-American players currently in the NFL?
A: The article highlights three key players: Kyle Hamilton (safety for the Baltimore Ravens), Kyler Head (quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals), and Koo Young-hoe (kicker for the Atlanta Falcons).
Q: What is Kyle Hamilton’s connection to Korea?
A: Kyle Hamilton is half-Korean; his mother, Jackie Hamilton (born Park Gye-ok in Daegu, South Korea), is Korean. He actively embraces his heritage,creating merchandise that showcases his Korean roots and supports causes in the Asian-American community.
Q: Kyler Head, also a quarterback, and a quarter-Korean, what are his achievements?
A: Kyler Head (quarter-Korean), was selected as the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He’s celebrated for his dual-sport background, previously drafted by MLB.He is under contract for a long term.
Q: How did Koo Young-hoe become an NFL player?
A: Koo Young-hoe was born in Seoul, South Korea, and immigrated to the US at age 12. He initially pursued soccer but switched to football. After facing challenges early in his career, he persevered, eventually succeeding as a kicker in the NFL and making a name for himself as the “Ice Man.”
Q: What is the significance of these players and their Korean heritage?
A: These players represent the growing influence of Asian-American athletes in professional football. They serve as role models and inspire others. Their embrace of their heritage demonstrates the diversity and global reach of the NFL.
