International Kickers Steal the Show at NFL Combine
INDIANAPOLIS — Picture this: a scout, eyes narrowed, trying to make out the numbers on the jerseys of kickers at Lucas Oil Stadium. The numbers are neon green, hard to read against the black jerseys. “Who is No. 18?” he asks, turning to his fellow special teams enthusiasts seated nearby.
No. 18 had just nailed a 55-yarder from the left hash, and the mystery of his identity was palpable. Only six kickers had been officially invited to the combine, and this one wasn’t among them. “It’s the German kid,” another special teams staffer chimed in. “Germany?” the first coach asked, clearly intrigued.
Meet Lenny Krieg, 22, from Berlin. A former soccer player turned Stuttgart Surge kicker, Krieg’s journey to the NFL Combine is nothing short of fascinating. His older brother, who spent a year studying in Wisconsin, returned home with a newfound passion for American football, eventually becoming a coach. At 19, Krieg swapped his soccer cleats for football ones, teaching himself to kick through YouTube and Instagram tutorials.
Krieg’s journey took him from playing for his brother’s German league team to the European League of Football, where he commuted 6½ hours by train each week from Berlin to Stuttgart. Despite the challenges, Krieg’s dedication paid off. He caught the attention of multiple teams at the combine, going a perfect 14-of-14 on field goal attempts from 35 to 55 yards, the only kicker to achieve such a feat.
One scout ranked Krieg as his third-best kicker of the day, despite his unconventional swing. Two special teams coaches agreed that this year’s international specialists, including Krieg and others from Ireland and Italy, were stronger than last year’s group. Krieg’s performance was so impressive that one pro scout remarked, “He was better than most of the Americans.”
Krieg’s presence at the combine was the result of a meeting in 2023 at the NFL Films office in New Jersey. Special teams coaches and the league’s football operations staff discussed the idea of creating a standalone workout for specialists, allowing more players to be invited. Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown and Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi were among those advocating for this change.
Brown noted that more than 60% of NFL specialists didn’t attend the combine, leading to an inefficient process of scouting specialists individually. The idea was to make it easier for coaches and give players more visibility. Troy Vincent, the NFL’s senior EVP of football operations, supported the idea and suggested including international players.
Irish kicking coach Tadhg Leader worked with NFL UK to find a group of international kickers, training them into combine-ready specialists in just a few months. The youngest of last year’s group, Charlie Smyth, signed with the New Orleans Saints and spent the year developing on the team’s practice squad.
In 2024, four specialists were drafted, and another 10 signed free agent contracts. By Week 1, there were seven rookie specialists on active rosters and two on practice squads. This year’s showcase included 27 specialists, with a mix of combine invitees and international players.
- Four kickers and two punters invited to the combine
- Additional nine kickers (four via the IPP)
- Six punters (one via the IPP)
- Six long snappers
NFL vice president of football development Roman Oben emphasized the importance of the showcase, stating, “You’re helping assemble a group of kickers, punters, and snappers that would not have been in Indy otherwise in some sort of singular event.”
TCU long snapper Brent Matiscik highlighted the value of the event, noting that having all 32 teams present was a rare and beneficial opportunity.
Last year’s inaugural specialist showcase was scheduled as the combine’s final on-field event, but this year, it kicked off the combine as the first workout of the week. Team Fassel and Team Brown competed closely, with Arizona kicker Tyler Loop and Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald facing off from 60 yards, securing Team Brown’s 77-74 win.
Despite having the best record on Team Brown, Krieg was not selected for the final faceoff. However, his performance and the presence of other international prospects like Ross Bolger and Mark McNamee showcased the potential of international talent.
Krieg’s experience at the combine was a realization of the NFL’s vastness. Walking into Lucas Oil Stadium and seeing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was a moment of awe for him. Before the workout, he called his family in Berlin and his Stuttgart Surge coach, grounding himself in the moment.
“It really helped me to get into the zone and feel comfortable, remember that I belong here,” Krieg said. “It’s not just luck or just a field trip.”
Originally Written by: Kalyn Kahler
