Meet Lenny Krieg, a German Native Competing for the Falcons’ Kicking Job

National Football League: Meet Lenny Krieg, a German Native Competing for the Falcons’ Kicking Job

Updated Jul. vipph life login register 21, 2025, 9:16 a.m. ET

Eric Williams, NFL Reporter

Lenny Krieg’s powerful leg could transport him all the way from Germany to the NFL. A former soccer player, Krieg started playing football in 2021 during the COVID pandemic, encouraged by his older brother, who is a former football player and now a coach in Germany. By watching tutorials on social media, he fine-tuned his kicking technique. After three seasons of play in his home country, the 22-year-old native of Berlin was chosen for the NFL’s International Pathway Program.

As part of this initiative, aimed at giving elite athletes worldwide an opportunity to make NFL rosters, Krieg took part in the Scouting Combine showcase in February. He excelled, going 14-for-14 in Indianapolis, kicking successfully from distances of 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and even 55 yards. This impressive performance was followed by another strong showing during a pro day in South Florida, leading to the Atlanta Falcons signing him in March. bet88 online casino

Now, he enters training camp with the chance to contest for the starting kicker role against NFL veteran Younghoe Koo. While this may sound like a fairy tale, it’s not so unbelievable considering Krieg has successfully made a 73-yard kick in practice.

Krieg was among several young specialists who recently took part in former NFL kicker Nick Novak’s annual pro week in San Diego. With ten seasons in the NFL under his belt, Novak is now a high school coach, kicking consultant, and a mentor to developmental players. “I’ve been following Nick’s social media videos for a long time, and it feels like a dream come true, a full-circle moment for me to be here with these guys,” Krieg shared during the camp lbc money tracking. “It’s helpful for me to incorporate some of the lessons I’ve learned here into my practice, identifying what works for me and what doesn’t. So it’s incredibly valuable.”

Krieg genuinely has a chance to claim the starting position over Koo, who is set to earn $4.25 million in 2025, making him the fourth-highest-paid kicker in the league. Koo, who will turn 31 in August, had a challenging season, converting only 73.5% of his field-goal attempts last year, his lowest percentage since his rookie season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, where he only managed 50% before losing his job after four games. In Week 10 of last season, Koo missed three kicks in a 20-17 loss against the New Orleans Saints. He dealt with a hip injury for a significant part of the season, which ultimately saw him placed on IR in Week 16. Following a disappointing end to the season, where the Falcons lost six of their last eight games and missed the playoffs, coach Raheem Morris acknowledged that kicking was a significant issue. “We missed far too many kicks this year,” Morris expressed in January. “The brutal honest truth — that can’t happen. We need to find ways to make those kicks, as this certainly factors into not winning the number of games we hoped for. We must create fierce competition across the board.”

The Falcons have fostered that competition by signing Krieg to a three-year deal, demonstrating that Atlanta is serious about his development. With Koo reportedly healthy again, this training camp battle is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing to watch. “There are only 32 jobs in the league, and my focus is on performing to my utmost and improving every day,” Krieg stated when asked about the competition with Koo. “Whatever happens, happens okebet ccc. gcash jili I aim to control what I can control, and what’s beyond my control is simply going to unfold.”

What seems to be in Krieg’s favor is that a talented but raw prospect from Berlin, who learned to kick an American football through YouTube, might soon be making his mark as a starting kicker in the NFL.

What do you think of Lenny Krieg’s journey in the NFL?