German Lenny Krieg impresses in the Falcons’ first preseason game with a mega field goal. Can he challenge veteran Younghoe Koo for the job?

At the beginning of the year, former Stuttgart Surge kicker Lenny Krieg impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine. Several teams showed interest, and in the end, the Atlanta Falcons signed him to a three-year contract that includes a base salary and signing bonus.

Veteran Younghoe Koo is actually the Falcons’ number one kicker, but that could change. Krieg opened the competition with an impressive field goal.

In the Falcons’ first preseason game – which was abandoned after a shocking injury before the end of the fourth quarter – the German scored an impressive field goal.

Krieg scored his attempt from 57 yards in the first quarter – and it wasn’t even close. The ball flew right through the goalposts. Krieg was celebrated by his teammates, and head coach Raheem Morris was beaming with enthusiasm.

The German also converted his extra point after Chris Blair’s touchdown shortly afterwards. The only slight blemish was that another field goal from 53 yards failed to find the target in the middle of the third quarter.

With Koo, the Falcons actually have an experienced kicker in their ranks. However, the 2020 Pro Bowler missed nine field goals last season and ended the season on the IR list with a hip injury.

Krieg wants to challenge Koo for Falcons job

Meanwhile, Krieg is really taking off. At the Combine, the 23-year-old, who came through the International Player Pathway Program, was the only player to convert all 14 field goal attempts. There are also video recordings of him scoring a field goal from an incredible 73 yards during Falcons training.

Money could also be a deciding factor. With a salary of $4.25 million, Koo would be the fourth-highest-paid kicker in the league in the new season.

Krieg himself remains calm. Before the start of the preseason, he said in an interview with Fox Sports: “There are 32 jobs in the league, and my job is to just do my best and get better every day.”

He added: “Whatever happens, happens. I try to control what I can control.”