The Atlanta Falcons have a window of opportunity in the NFC South next season. By ushering in first-year starter Michael Penix Jr. and first-round picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce, Atlanta has the talent needed to end a seven-year playoff drought. But there are some faces who may not be along for the ride.
The future of Kirk Cousins has been a hot topic this offseason, but the fate of another starter has been up in the air. The Falcons finally addressed this player’s future on Wednesday and admitted his six-year stay in Atlanta could be coming to an end during training camp.
Falcons Kicker Younghoe Koo Will Compete for Job During Training Camp
According to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams says there will be a competition at kicker between incumbent Younghoe Koo and Lenny Krieg. The announcement is a fall from grace for the Pro Bowler and could mean a new era for the Falcons.
Koo gained notoriety during his collegiate career at Georgia Southern when he went viral for some trick kicks. He parlayed that fame into a shot with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017 but made his way to Atlanta during the 2019 season and made 23-of-26 field goals in the final eight games to solve the Falcons’ kicking problem.
Things took off from there as Koo made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and made 87.1% of his field goals and 95.9% of his extra points over the next six seasons. But the 30-year-old tailed off last season, making just 25-of-34 (73.5%) field goal attempts as he battled a right hip injury. While he went perfect on extra points, the performance was enough to bring in Krieg.
Krieg is an import from Germany and kicked for the Stuttgart Surge of the European Football League over the past two seasons. He knocked down 19-of-26 (73.1%) of his field goal attempts during that timeframe but he impressed scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine by making all 14 of his field goal attempts between 35 and 55 yards. He also showed off a bigger leg by drilling a 63-yard attempt last month, and the 22-year-old is looking for his shot in the NFL.
Koo’s experience could give him the upper hand during the battle, but he’ll need to improve on last season’s performance. If he can’t it could allow Krieg to get his break and give the Falcons a new face at kicker next season.