Younghoe Koo is poised to embrace competition as he returns healthy for the Falcons' offseason training.
Younghoe Koo is preparing to face strong competition for the kicker position within the Atlanta Falcons as he returns from a hip injury that cut his 2024 season short. Now back at the Falcons’ OTAs in Flowery Branch, Koo feels healthy and motivated to compete for his job in the upcoming season.
Recovering From Injury and Returning to Form
Koo was placed on injured reserve in week 16 of the 2024 season due to a persistent hip injury that affected his kicking performance. Despite the setback, he is confident about his recovery and physical condition this offseason. Speaking on his health, Koo said,
“Health-wise, it’s great. It wasn’t as serious as it could have been, so I’m fortunate in that,”
and added,
“Every offseason, I go through my training and offseason routine, and I’m right where I want to be, if not further along.”
His dedication to rehab and training highlights his readiness for the challenges ahead.
Challenges Faced During the 2024 Season
The 2024 campaign was difficult for Koo, who made 25 of 34 field goal attempts, marking a career-low conversion rate of 73.5%. In a key game against the New Orleans Saints, Koo missed three kicks, including one blocked attempt, which contributed to the Falcons’ struggles to secure a win. His ongoing hip issue worsened over the course of the season. Koo explained,
“My hip, it’s like a rotator muscle. I’ve dealt with it before,”
further clarifying,
“It just comes with kicking. It was sore in the beginning, and it wasn’t really affecting my swing that much, so I just kept kicking on it and it just progressively got worse.”
Ultimately, recognizing the toll on his performance, he decided to step away to avoid further injury:
“I was like, ‘Alright, I’m not helping myself or the team at this point. No point in further injuring it. I’m not able to perform the way I want to,’ So, I shut it down.”
New Competition Arrives in Falcons Camp
Following Koo’s injury and the difficult season, the Falcons signed German kicker Lenny Krieg to a three-year contract after an impressive NFL Combine showing. This move signaled the team’s intention to foster real competition for the kicker role. Head coach Raheem Morris addressed the need for improvement, stating,
Image of: Younghoe Koo
“We missed entirely too many kicks this year, the brutal honest truth, that can’t happen. So, we’ve got to find ways to make those kicks. That certainly plays into the part of not winning the amount of games you want to win. We got to find ways to create that competition across the board for all of us.”
This candid assessment underlines the importance of securing reliability at the kicking position to improve the team’s chances.
Koo Welcomes Competition but Remains Confident
Younghoe Koo acknowledged that while he has not faced significant competition for his spot since 2019, having Krieg in camp brings a new dynamic to the team. On this, Koo remarked,
“It’s not my first time having a kicker in the locker room with me throughout OTAs or training camp, but it’s just kind of how it is in the NFL,”
calling Krieg a “great dude” who “works hard.” Koo’s acceptance of the challenge reflects his commitment to maintaining his role through perseverance and performance.
Implications for Falcons’ Special Teams in 2025
The Falcons’ move to sign Krieg and foster competition indicates the organization’s serious focus on bolstering its special teams unit after a tough 2024. Koo’s recovery and readiness to compete could motivate both kickers to elevate their play. With training camp and the preseason approaching, the battle for the Falcons’ kicker job will be closely watched, with potential impact on close-game outcomes in the 2025 NFL season.
