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Michael Koenen
Michael Koenen
Michael Koenen
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Michael J. Koenen (born July 13, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football for the Western Washington Vikings. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Key Information

Early life

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Koenen attended Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Washington, and was a letterman in football, basketball, and soccer. In football, he won All-Northwest League honors as a senior.

College career

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Koenen played college football for Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington,[1] and is one of only three NFL players to have played football for that school. While there, he received numerous Division II All-American honors from sources such as Street & Smith, Lindy's Football Annuals, Don Hanen's Football Gazette, Daktronics, Inc., and D2football.com, as well as being recognized by the NCAA. He was also named a Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) all-star four times as a placekicker and twice as a punter. He ended his college career as the Western Washington University, GNAC, and Northwest small college all-time leader in kicking scoring with 272 points, including 43 field goals and 143 PATs. He participated in the 2005 Cactus Bowl.

Professional career

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Atlanta Falcons

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Koenen in 2008

Koenen signed a two-year free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons on April 26, 2005. He went on to edge out veteran punter Toby Gowin, who had also signed a free agent deal that offseason, for the starting job with the Falcons. He appeared in all sixteen regular season games for the Falcons, punting 78 times for 3,300 yards, which was good for a 42.3 yards per punt average and ninth in the NFC. He also served as the team's kickoff specialist and was seventh in the NFC in yards per kickoff. His 14 touchbacks put him behind only Pro Bowler Neil Rackers.

In the Falcons' October 9, 2005 game against the New England Patriots, they had the ball on New England's 41 yard line with six seconds remaining in the first half. Since regular placekicker Todd Peterson's range was insufficient to attempt a field goal from that distance, Falcons head coach Jim Mora turned to Koenen. Koenen actually attempted the kick, the first field goal attempt in his pro career, twice. Prior to the initial snap, Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel called a timeout. Koenen heard the referee's whistle but still kicked the field goal. It landed right of the goalpost. A few moments later, Koenen attempted the kick again, and this time made an official 58-yard field goal. It was the longest field goal of Koenen's career at any level, tied for the ninth longest in NFL history[dubious – discuss] (as well as the single longest in the 2005 season), and was the third longest in history by an undrafted kicker.

Koenen (right) holding for placekicker Jason Elam with the Falcons in 2009.

In the Falcons' first preseason game of 2006, Koenen made four field goals, from 53, 50, 40, and 45 yards, along with doing the punting and kickoff duties. Koenen was slated to do the placekicking, punting, and kickoffs for the Falcons, something that is rarely done in the NFL by one player;[2] however after he converted only two of eight field goal attempts to start the regular season, the Falcons brought back Morten Andersen, who had kicked in Super Bowl XXXIII for Atlanta eight years earlier, to take over field goal duties. Koenen retained his duties on punts and kickoffs.

During the first game after this change, Koenen was involved in an iconic play. The Falcons visited the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football in the first home game for the Saints at the Louisiana Superdome since Hurricane Katrina had devastated the city and the stadium. Koenen's first punt of the game was blocked by Saints safety Steve Gleason. Gleason's block bounced into the end zone and was recovered for a touchdown by Curtis Deloatch. The score put New Orleans up 7–0, a game Atlanta would lose 23–3. The moment was widely considered a moment of revitalization for the city of New Orleans after the hurricane, and a statue of the play was later dedicated outside the Superdome in 2012. Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, and Koenen are both depicted in full on the sculpture. Koenen's name and Falcons logos are absent from the statue, due to the Falcons view that including these marks would be inappropriate, though Koenen later stated that he would not have been opposed to his name being included on the statue if he been approached about it. Koenen also reached out to Gleason on Twitter congratulating him.

For the 2007 season, Koenen returned solely as the Falcons' punter; the club signed Billy Cundiff to handle the other kicking duties.[2] Cundiff was released before the season; Matt Prater was signed but also released after a short while, and the placekicking was again done by Andersen.

A restricted free agent in the 2008 offseason, Koenen was tendered a one-year, $1.417 million contract by the Falcons. He re-signed on April 14.

A free agent in the 2009 offseason, the Falcons placed the franchise tag on Koenen on February 9.[3] He signed the one-year, $2.48 million tender offer on February 13.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Koenen was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a six-year, $19.5-million contract on July 29, 2011.[4] He was released at the end of the preseason in September 2015.

An attempt to return to the NFL in 2016 was aborted due to complications from colitis that he claims was contracted after drinking contaminated water in Tampa. At one point, he lost 44 pounds following a clostridioides difficile infection.[5]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Punting
GP Punts Yds Net Yds Lng Avg Net Avg Blk Ins20 TB
2005 ATL 16 78 3,300 2,882 67 42.3 36.9 0 23 9
2006 ATL 16 76 3,199 2,800 65 42.1 35.9 2 25 6
2007 ATL 16 88 3,824 3,417 63 43.5 38.8 0 30 5
2008 ATL 16 63 2,566 2,437 60 40.7 37.5 2 25 4
2009 ATL 16 61 2,598 2,249 70 42.6 36.3 1 18 3
2010 ATL 16 74 3,014 2,673 61 40.7 35.6 1 29 5
2011 TAM 16 67 3,023 2,697 65 45.1 40.3 0 24 3
2012 TAM 16 76 3,440 2,880 64 45.3 37.4 1 22 6
2013 TAM 16 87 3,846 3,333 62 44.2 38.3 0 19 6
2014 TAM 16 78 3,154 2,929 56 40.4 37.1 1 17 2
Career 160 748 31,964 28,297 70 42.7 37.4 8 232 49

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team Punting
GP Punts Yds Net Yds Lng Avg Net Avg Blk Ins20 TB
2008 ATL 1 5 212 213 49 42.4 42.6 0 0 0
2010 ATL 1 3 111 111 57 37.0 37.0 0 1 0
Career 2 8 323 324 57 40.4 40.5 0 1 0

Personal life

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Koenen, who majored in general studies, has been married to Devin Koenen since July 14, 2006.[6]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Michael Koenen

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
''Michael Koenen'' is an American former professional football punter known for his ten-year career in the National Football League (NFL) with the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He established himself as a reliable and consistent punter after entering the league as an undrafted free agent, contributing to special teams play during his time in the league. Born on July 13, 1982, in Ferndale, Washington, Koenen played college football at Western Washington University, where he excelled as both a kicker and punter, becoming one of the few players from the program to reach the NFL. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2005 and spent several seasons there before moving to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he signed a significant contract. Throughout his career, Koenen handled punting duties in numerous games, recording solid averages and demonstrating durability as a special teams specialist. He retired after the 2014 season, leaving a legacy as a successful NFL punter from a smaller college program.

Early life

Birth and upbringing

Michael Koenen was born on July 13, 1982, in Ferndale, Washington, USA. He grew up in Ferndale, a small community in Whatcom County in northwestern Washington. As a child, Koenen's first love was soccer, and his mother discouraged him from playing football until the eighth grade. This early preference for soccer and delayed entry into football shaped his initial athletic experiences in the local Ferndale community before he transitioned to more focused football involvement in high school.

High school football

Michael Koenen played high school football at Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Washington, lettering for three years as a kicker and punter. He graduated in the class of 2000. Over the course of his career, he earned consistent recognition in the Northwest League, receiving second-team all-league honors as a kicker during his sophomore season in 1997, first-team as a kicker and second-team as a punter in his junior year of 1998, and first-team as a kicker in his senior year of 1999. In his senior season, Koenen was selected as a first-team Class 3A all-state honoree by the Washington Prep Football Report and contributed to the Ferndale Golden Eagles' strong 12-1 campaign, which included capturing the Northwest League title and advancing to the Class 3A state semifinals. That year, he converted 29 of 31 point-after-touchdown attempts and made 3 of 5 field goals, including a school-record 47-yard field goal during a 17-14 victory over Anacortes High School. Across his high school tenure, Koenen accumulated 145 successful extra points and 7 field goals.

College career at Western Washington University

Michael Koenen played college football at Western Washington University, serving as both punter and placekicker for the Western Washington Vikings from 2001 to 2004. He was a four-year letterwinner who earned multiple All-GNAC selections in both positions, including four first-team honors as placekicker and two as punter. His punting career included a school-record average of 43.1 yards per punt over 191 attempts. His career-long punt of 73 yards came in 2002, when he led the nation with a 44.9 average. In 2004, his senior season, he posted a 43.5-yard punting average (ranked No. 3 nationally) on 37 punts. Koenen also excelled as a placekicker, setting school and GNAC records with 272 career points scored. In 2004, he was named unanimous first-team All-GNAC as both placekicker and punter, WWU Special Teams Player of the Year, and D2football.com Northwest Region Special Teams Player of the Year. These collegiate achievements as a dual specialist helped pave the way for his entry into professional football as an undrafted free agent.

Professional football career

Entry into the NFL and Atlanta Falcons tenure

Michael Koenen entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent when he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2005 following his college career at Western Washington University. He quickly established himself as the team's primary punter and kickoff specialist, holding those roles through the 2010 season. During his six seasons with the Falcons from 2005 to 2010, Koenen served as a reliable punter and contributed to field position with his punts and kickoffs. His strongest statistical year came in 2009, when he averaged 45.6 yards per punt on 76 attempts. The Falcons had placed the franchise tag on him in February 2009 before that season. Koenen's consistent performance helped the Falcons in key games by flipping the field and limiting opponents' starting position, particularly during the team's playoff appearances.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers and career end

In July 2011, Michael Koenen signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an unrestricted free agent following six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. The deal was a six-year contract valued at $19.5 million, with $6.5 million guaranteed, aimed at bolstering the team's punting and kickoff coverage units. Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris highlighted Koenen's impact on field position, noting that he had previously "killed" the team with his abilities and would now benefit Tampa Bay. Koenen served as the Buccaneers' primary punter from 2011 to 2014, appearing in all 64 games during his four-season tenure. He handled punts and kickoffs, contributing to field position. On September 1, 2015, the Buccaneers released Koenen during final roster cuts, with two years remaining on his contract. The move left the team with other punting options heading into the season, and Koenen did not sign with another NFL team, marking the end of his professional football career after 10 seasons.

Playing style and notable achievements

Michael Koenen was known for a punting style that emphasized hang time and directional control rather than raw leg strength or maximum distance. In 2011, he averaged 5.3 seconds of hang time on his punts, allowing coverage units to reach the ball carrier and frequently secure fair catches or tackles. He demonstrated strong spin and control on deep kicks, pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line effectively. Later with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Koenen adapted his approach to prioritize preventing returns by incorporating end-over-end spin, knuckleball variations, and sideline placement, which often traded gross yardage for improved hang time and coverage results. This strategy was particularly evident in matchups against elite returners, where the focus shifted to forcing fair catches and limiting yardage after the catch. Across his 10-season NFL career from 2005 to 2014, Koenen punted 748 times for 31,964 yards, averaging 42.7 yards per punt with a career net average of 37.4 yards over 160 games. He placed 232 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line (31.0% of his attempts) and recorded a longest punt of 70 yards in 2009. Koenen had strong seasons, including a single-season high gross average of 45.6 yards in 2009 with the Falcons and high averages with the Buccaneers in 2011 and 2012. Early in his Buccaneers tenure, his performance was credited with improving team field position through high net averages and strong kickoff coverage integration. While he did not earn Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition, Koenen's durability stood out as he appeared in every game over his 160-game career, providing consistent special teams contributions without major interruptions.

Television and media appearances

Roles as self in sports programming

Michael Koenen appeared as himself in sports programming throughout his NFL career, primarily in broadcasts of league games where he was featured as a punter for the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These appearances occurred between 2005 and 2014, aligning with his professional tenure in the league. As an active player, his roles as self typically involved standard game coverage on networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports, along with potential features in NFL Films productions and highlight shows that showcased punting performances and team activities. Such exposure is common for NFL athletes during their playing years, providing direct visibility in sports media without separate scripted or guest segments.

Personal life

Family and community involvement

Michael Koenen is married to Devin Koenen (née Dykstra), a former standout athlete at Western Washington University where she earned letters in basketball and softball. The couple wed on July 14, 2006, and they have five children. The Koenens own and operate Burk Ridge Farms, a 150-acre property in Custer, Whatcom County, Washington, specializing in grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, and poultry while emphasizing local food production and humane practices. With support from Devin's parents, Vern and Joann Dykstra, the farm launched a mobile USDA slaughter unit to serve farmers across multiple counties, and it pursues organic certification to provide transparent, community-focused meat products. In 2010, Koenen established the Michael Koenen Foundation to give back to his hometown community through youth-oriented initiatives. The foundation hosted the annual Michael Koenen NFL All-Star Kids Football Camp, a free event for children in grades three through eight in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties, focused on teaching football fundamentals in a safe environment while stressing the value of education and positive life choices. In 2014, Koenen partnered with fellow NFL alumnus Jake Locker and local businessman Wes Herman to acquire Thrive Community Fitness in Ferndale and rebrand it as the Locker Room, with the goal of sharing professional-level health, fitness, and nutrition knowledge with the local community.

Post-retirement activities

After his release by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in September 2015, which effectively ended his NFL career, Michael Koenen returned to his hometown area in Whatcom County, Washington, where he has focused on business and fitness-related activities. In partnership with fellow Ferndale native and former NFL quarterback Jake Locker, along with Wes Herman of The Woods Coffee, Koenen co-owns Locker Room Fitness in Ferndale, Washington. The venture began with their acquisition of the Thrive Community Fitness center in late 2014, which has since operated under the Locker Room Fitness banner, offering community-oriented fitness programs. Koenen has been actively involved in the business, including providing speed and conditioning training sessions alongside Locker. This enterprise reflects his continued engagement in athletic development and community wellness in the region where he grew up and attended Ferndale High School and Western Washington University.

Legacy

Impact on local football and Vikings program

Michael Koenen has served as an inspiration for young football players in Ferndale and the broader Whatcom County community, demonstrating the potential for athletes from small high school and Division II programs to reach the NFL. He is regarded as one of the "pride of Ferndale," alongside other notable figures with NFL ties who emerged from the local high school, highlighting his success as a source of motivation for area youth. Through the Michael Koenen Foundation, he has organized and participated in multiple free, non-contact youth football camps held at Ferndale High School, often teaming up with fellow Ferndale alumnus and NFL quarterback Jake Locker to provide local children with instruction and exposure to the sport from professional players. These camps aim to teach fundamental football skills, promote participation, and give back to the community that supported his early development. Events have included hands-on activities where Koenen and others engage directly with participants, reinforcing his ongoing commitment to local football development. Koenen's influence extends to the Western Washington University Vikings program, where his status as a highly successful alumnus has bolstered the program's reputation. His induction into the WWU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020 recognized his transition from standout college performer to a 10-year NFL career as a punter and kickoff specialist, serving as a powerful example for current and future Vikings players that achievement at the professional level is possible from a Division II background.

Records and recognition

Michael Koenen amassed career punting totals of 748 punts for 31,964 yards with a gross average of 42.7 yards per punt across 160 games in the NFL. He placed 232 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and maintained a net punting average of 37.4 yards, with a longest punt of 70 yards. His career included 49 touchbacks on punts and 8 blocked punts. During his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons from 2005 to 2010, Koenen recorded 440 punts for 18,501 yards at a 42.0-yard average, ranking fourth in franchise history in career punting yards. Among Falcons punters with at least 300 attempts, his gross average ranks third in team history. Koenen appeared on NFL leaderboards in several categories across multiple seasons, including top-10 rankings in punts (four seasons), punting yards (two seasons), and longest punt (two seasons). He led the league in blocked punts in 2006 with two. While he received no Pro Bowl selections or All-Pro honors, Koenen earned a weekly special teams recognition from Pro Football Weekly in 2005.

References

  1. https://www.nfl.com/players/michael-koenen/
  2. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/koenemic01.htm
  3. https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/player/_/id/9263/michael-koenen
  4. https://wwuvikings.com/sports/football/roster/michael-koenen/6146
  5. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/1040/michael-koenen
  6. https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7439/
  7. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/9263/michael-koenen
  8. https://wwuvikings.com/news/2017/6/19/Carver_Memories_Sept_25_2006
  9. https://www.whatcomcountyfootball.com/top-500-473-michael-koenen/
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20090211025704/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/02/09/falcons-franchise-their-punter/
  11. https://www.buccaneers.com/news/field-position-win-bucs-sign-koenen-5284514
  12. https://www.buccaneers.com/news/buccaneers-release-punter-michael-koenen-15786627
  13. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1104402-br-nfl-1000-top-32-punters
  14. https://www.tampabay.com/sports/football/bucs/bucs-punter-koenen-there-are-reasons-for-poor-average/2206266/
  15. https://www.buccaneers.com/news/game-changer-5839552
  16. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-punter-who-suffered-from-a-debilitating-illness-is-close-to-a-remarkable-comeback
  17. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/ex-bucs-punter-michael-koenen-believes-tainted-water-cost-him-his-health-job
  18. https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2016/09/nfl-nations-saints-reporter-produces-oral-history-recalling-milestone-mnf-game/
  19. https://wwuvikings.com/news/2006/8/12/espn_com_koenen_performing_well_in_place_kicker_role.aspx
  20. https://grownorthwest.com/2015/06/burk-ridge-farms-grown-here-for-here/
  21. https://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/other-sports/article24837166.html
  22. https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/business/article22261515.html
  23. https://www.bucsnation.com/2015/9/1/9238663/nfl-roster-cuts-2015-buccaneers-release-michael-koenen
  24. https://news.wwu.edu/inthemedia/local-nfl-players-locker-koenen-purchase-ferndale-gym
  25. https://www.americanspa.com/commercial-clubs/nfl-players-open-fitness-center-washington-state
  26. https://www.lockerroomfitness.com/about-us.aspx
  27. https://www.king5.com/article/sports/locker-koenen-and-pederson-the-pride-of-ferndale/281-65527844
  28. https://www.lyndentribune.com/sports/nfl-takes-over-whatcom-county/article_85b9cef8-2135-5816-8aee-03f2d4eea771.html
  29. https://wwuvikings.com/news/2020/2/26/general-wwu-announces-four-new-athletics-hall-of-fame-members.aspx
  30. https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/atlanta-falcons/leaders/career-punting-yards
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