Mike Koenen life and biography

TRANSACTIONS
Signed by the Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 26, 2005.

CAREER

Set a franchise record with five touchbacks against Carolina on September 20, 2009 and tied the mark again against the Panthers in Week 10 of the season. Ranked fourth in the NFC in punts inside the 20-yard line with 25 in 2008. Also helped the Falcons rank second in the NFL in opponents average starting field position following kickoffs with a 24.6-yard line average. Part of a special teams unit that set a NFL record by allowing only 49 punt return yards in 2008. Helped Atlanta rank second in the NFC and second in the NFL in opponents starting average field position with a 25.5-yard line mark in 2007. Has taken over kickoff duties while serving as the team's punter for the past five seasons. Has recorded 121 career punts inside the 20-yard line while contributing with 83 touchbacks on kickoffs.

2009 (FALCONS)
Totaled 61 punts for 2,598 yards and a 42.6 average while adding 18 kicks inside the 20-yard line and a long punt of 70 yards. Served as the Falcons kickoff specialist and in 71 kickoffs, recorded 28 touchbacks, which ranked tied for second among all kickers in the NFL. Posted a franchise record with five touchbacks on five kickoffs against Carolina (9/20) in addition to recording one punt inside the 20-yard line on three attempts. Tied his own franchise-high of five touchbacks at Carolina (11/15) while recording a career-long 70-yard punt. Collected a season-high 319 yards on eight punts at the New York Jets (12/20).

2008 (FALCONS)
Compiled 63 punts for 2,566 yards (40.7 avg.) 25 punts inside the 20-yard line and a long kick of 60 yards. Also totaled 16 touchbacks on 86 kickoffs. Tallied six punts for 259 yards vs. Kansas City (9/21) with a season-high three being downed inside the 20-yard line. Posted one touchback on four kickoffs at Carolina (9/28) and added six punts for 254 yards with one being downed inside the 20-yard line, including a season-long 60-yard punt. Registered season highs in punts (seven) and punting yards (264) in addition to posting a career-high in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (five) against Philadelphia (10/26). Totaled six punts for 253 yards (42.2 avg.) on touchback, and two kicks pinned inside the 20-yard line at Minnesota (12/21).

2007 (FALCONS)
Notched 83 punts for 3,824 yards (46.0 avg.), a career-high 30 kicks dropped inside the 20-yard line and a long kick of 63 yards. Also added 63 kickoffs with 13 touchbacks. Posted a season-high 288 yards on seven punts with three being downed inside the 20-yard line vs. New York (10/15). Logged a career-high 385 yards punting on a career-high tying eight attempts at Carolina (11/11) and added five kickoffs with one touchback. Also collared one tackle on special teams in the win. Tallied six punts for 282 yards (47.0 avg.), with four being downed inside the 20-yard line vs. New Orleans (12/10) in addition to recording three kickoffs with two touchbacks. Recorded six punts for 273 yards, including a season-long 63-yard punt at Tampa Bay (12/16).

2006 (FALCONS)
Punted 76 times for 3,199 yards (42.1 avg.) with a long of 65 and 25 punts dropped inside the 20-yard line. Also recorded 67 kickoffs with 41.8% reaching the endzone and 13 resulting in touchbacks. Converted three of nine field goals on the year. Ranked first in the NFL in pinning teams back in their own territory as opponents averaged a starting field position at the 23.6-yard line. Registered two punts for 93 yards (46.5 avg.) with one downed inside the 20-yard line vs. Arizona (10/1). Also kicked a 51-yard field goal in the second quarter. Recorded three touchbacks on seven kickoffs at Cincinnati (10/29) in addition to posting three punts for 166 yards (55.3 avg.), which included a season-long 65-yard punt and one punt downed inside the 20-yard line. Posted 287 yards on a career-high eight punts with three inside the 20-yard line vs. Cleveland (11/12). Amassed a season-high 295 yards on six punts (49.2 avg.) vs. New Orleans (11/26) with three of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

2005 (FALCONS)
Totaled 78 punts for 3,300 yards (42.3 avg.) with 23 dropped inside the 20-yard line and a long of 67 yards. Forced 14 touchbacks on kickoffs and allowed opponents an average starting field position at the 24.1-yard line, which ranked first in the NFL. Also connected on one of two field goal attempts, with his lone conversion being an NFL season-long of 58 yards. Punted seven times for 319 yards (45.6 avg.) with a long of 53 vs. New England (10/9). Also connected on the first field goal attempt of his NFL career from 58 yards out with six seconds left in the first half. The 58-yarder was third longest field goal in NFL history by an undrafted player, and ranked as the longest in the 2005 NFL season. Had six punts for 276 yards (46.0 avg.) and three kicks dropped inside the 20-yard line vs. New Orleans (12/12).

COLLEGE

Converted 43 of 74 field goal attempts and 143 of 150 PATs in his career at Western Washington, while setting a school record for career punting average (43.1). Was named Northwest Special Teams Player of the Year as a senior. Registered 62 kickoffs for 3,702 yards (59.7 avg.) with a school record-tying 19 touchbacks.

PERSONAL

Earned All-Northwest League honors as a senior at Ferndale (WA) High School and was a first-team all-league kicker and second-team punter as a junior. Also lettered three years in basketball and soccer. Born Michael J Koenen (KANE-in) on July 13, 1982. Married his wife, Devin, on July 14, 2006.

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