The Atlanta Falcons opened training camp this week with multiple position battles underway — including a rare one at kicker, where veteran Younghoe Koo is fighting to reclaim his spot after the worst season of his career.Koo, a Georgia Southern alum and former Pro Bowler, converted just 73.5 percent of his field goal attempts in 2024 — his lowest mark since joining the team in 2019. The decline in performance coincided with a hip injury that forced him to miss the final three games of the season.“I’m not sugarcoating it — it was the worst season of my life,” Koo said. “I’m ready to get back to what I know I’m capable of: being the best in the league.”Despite the dip, Koo remained perfect on extra points (26-for-26) and hit a career-long 58-yard field goal. But the Falcons aren’t handing him the job. In March, Atlanta signed German-born kicker Lenny Krieg to a three-year deal. A converted soccer player, Krieg impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine and will compete for the starting job.Falcons special teams coach Marquice Williams confirmed the team intends to give both kickers a fair shot, according to ESPN.It’s a scenario Koo is familiar with. In 2019, he unseated longtime kicker Matt Bryant and quickly proved himself by converting over 86 percent of his field goals in each of his first four seasons in Atlanta.Now 30, Koo is leaning on his experience — and his support system — as he looks to bounce back in 2025.“Having that support system from the coaches, the teammates and everything, it means the world,” he said. “It makes you want to work that much harder and make it right for those guys, just as much as for yourself.”

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. —

The Atlanta Falcons opened training camp this week with multiple position battles underway — including a rare one at kicker, where veteran Younghoe Koo is fighting to reclaim his spot after the worst season of his career.

Koo, a Georgia Southern alum and former Pro Bowler, converted just 73.5 percent of his field goal attempts in 2024 — his lowest mark since joining the team in 2019. The decline in performance coincided with a hip injury that forced him to miss the final three games of the season.

“I’m not sugarcoating it — it was the worst season of my life,” Koo said. “I’m ready to get back to what I know I’m capable of: being the best in the league.”

Despite the dip, Koo remained perfect on extra points (26-for-26) and hit a career-long 58-yard field goal. But the Falcons aren’t handing him the job. In March, Atlanta signed German-born kicker Lenny Krieg to a three-year deal. A converted soccer player, Krieg impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine and will compete for the starting job.

Falcons special teams coach Marquice Williams confirmed the team intends to give both kickers a fair shot, according to ESPN.

It’s a scenario Koo is familiar with. In 2019, he unseated longtime kicker Matt Bryant and quickly proved himself by converting over 86 percent of his field goals in each of his first four seasons in Atlanta.

Now 30, Koo is leaning on his experience — and his support system — as he looks to bounce back in 2025.

“Having that support system from the coaches, the teammates and everything, it means the world,” he said. “It makes you want to work that much harder and make it right for those guys, just as much as for yourself.”

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At Falcons camp today, Younghoe Koo talked about giving the commencement speech at Georgia Southern’s graduation in May.

It’s incredible that he can make 50+ yard field goals with fans screaming, but he got nervous at the idea of speaking to college kids 😂 pic.twitter.com/3umPBYYbZy

— Pat Timlin (@pat_timlin) July 24, 2025