Amid the Atlanta Falcons’ 2024 downfall, kicker Younghoe Koo’s struggles went largely unnoticed. His performance declined so sharply late in the season that the team began going for it on downs they would normally kick.
By the end of the year, the Falcons stopped letting Koo attempt longer field goals altogether, eventually placing him on injured reserve and bringing in Riley Patterson.
That decision had major consequences, as Patterson missed a potential game-winning field goal that could have boosted Atlanta into playoff contention.
The Falcons responded to that disappointment by signing German kicker Lenny Krieg ahead of the 2025 season — a move that flew under the radar amid the buzz around the Kirk Cousins trade and an otherwise lackluster free agency period.
Younghoe Koo needs an early surge to maintain his starting role in the 2025 season
In 2024, Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo converted just 73.5 percent of his field goal attempts — a sharp decline from his previous worst mark of 86.5 percent over the last two seasons. The significant drop-off forced the team to take action.
Enter Lenny Krieg, a wildcard signing who offers a backup plan, though he remains largely unproven. While his leg strength is clear, it’s uncertain whether he can perform under pressure — something Koo failed to do last season, arguably costing the Falcons at least two games.
This issue was one of the more overlooked reasons behind Atlanta’s disappointing collapse. While quarterback Kirk Cousins and head coach Raheem Morris made costly errors, Koo’s missed opportunities played a major role in how the season unfolded. The team clearly saw the need for a dependable alternative in case they decide to move on from Koo.
Koo took over from franchise icon Matt Bryant in 2019 and provided four seasons of remarkable consistency.
Even if this marks the end of his time in Atlanta, his contributions and clutch performances remain a strong part of his legacy.
The kicker situation will be closely monitored throughout training camp and the preseason as the Falcons assess Koo’s reliability.
Ideally, his struggles in 2024 were due to an injury, and he’ll bounce back. If not, Atlanta may soon learn what they have in Lenny Krieg.
