The German-born kicker was quickly snapped up and will spend the summer competing with Younghoe Koo.
It was logical for the Atlanta Falcons to prioritize adding some competition for Younghoe Koo, who had the worst year of his career in 2024 and went on injured reserve late in the campaign. Now we know who the team views as worthy of competing and/or sticking around on the practice squad as a developmental option.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo reports that the team has signed German-born kicker Lenny Krieg. In 2024, he was the top kicker in the European Football League, scoring 99 points with 84.6% accuracy.
The #Falcons have agreed to terms with German-born K Lenny Krieg, sources say. One day after he kicked at the NFL’s International Player Pathway program pro day, Krieg visited Atlanta. He had trips to other teams scheduled but signs with the first team that hosted him. pic.twitter.com/ufU4M73qZ4
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 27, 2025
Mike Garafolo says that Krieg wowed teams at the Scouting Combine and the IPP (International Player Pathway) pro day. Krieg reportedly had a robust market, but the Falcons were the first team he met. They were aggressive in their pursuit, signing him to a three-year deal with a signing bonus and a base salary guarantee.
Krieg, 22, is a former soccer player who taught himself how to kick and caught on with the Stuttgart Surge of the European League of Football. He hit every kick at at the Scouting Combine, the only kicker in attendance to do so, and has shown off a strong leg throughout his short career.
Younghoe Koo’s 2024 struggles have been lurking in the shadows of Kirk Cousins’ debacle. While Cousins has gotten most of the attention, he isn’t the only Falcon who suffered an injury that changed the trajectory of the team’s 2024 outcome. Koo cost the Falcons a win against the New Orleans Saints, a game that would end up haunting the franchise as the division race tightened in the season’s final weeks.
Many suspected Koo may have been a cut candidate in the early weeks of free agency, but that approach never made sense. Koo’s contract provides more financial relief if he’s released after June 1st. It would also be egregious to release the kicker before confirming that the next man up is suited for the job. The Falcons need to see if they can salvage one of the most historically efficient kickers in the game, and the best way to do that is by bringing in more competition for camp.
May the best man win.