The Atlanta Falcons are exploring their options at kicker after a crushing 23-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1.
Veteran kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 44-yard attempt in the final seconds that would have sent the game into overtime, and head coach Raheem Morris confirmed Monday that the team will work out both veteran and young kickers this week.
Younghoe Koo with a moving tribute to Harrison Butker and Rich Eisen pic.twitter.com/neyi7PINT7
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 7, 2025
Younghoe Koo Facing Pressure After Miss
Koo, once one of the NFL’s most reliable legs, has seen his accuracy slip in recent years. He connected on just 73.5 percent of his field goals in 2023, his lowest mark since becoming Atlanta’s full-time kicker.
On Sunday, he converted two earlier kicks but pushed the one that mattered wide right. Morris made it clear that while Koo is still the starter “right now,” the team isn’t afraid to create competition to ensure they can rely on critical kicks moving forward.
#Falcons PK Younghoe Koo on missing the FG vs. the #Bucs. He’s speaking to the media now. pic.twitter.com/vrqJAfVygw
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) September 8, 2025
Falcons Eye Competition Before Week 2
The Falcons already have German-born kicker Lenny Krieg on their practice squad as a developmental option, but Morris said the team will also bring in veterans and other young prospects for workouts.
The decision comes with urgency, as Atlanta faces the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football in Week 2. For Koo, his hold on the job is no longer guaranteed, and the Falcons are ready to make a change if his struggles continue.
Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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