The Falcons are not making a change at kicker, and they’re not sounding alarmed either.
Despite a rocky start from Nick Folk, Atlanta is keeping faith in the veteran as the team gets ready for Thursday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers. Folk has missed field goal chances in each of the Falcons’ first two games, adding another layer of scrutiny to a kicking situation that was already a major offseason focus after Atlanta went through three kickers in 2025.
Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman made the team’s stance clear Wednesday.
“No concerns. Obviously, we'd love for him to make those kicks.
“Our biggest thing is to really focus in on a technique that he's been doing, continue to hone that in, make sure his steps are good, make sure his swing is consistent.”
That approach matches why Atlanta brought Folk in to begin with. He arrived with 19 years of NFL experience and an 85% career field goal percentage. He also had not finished a season below 95% since 2022, which is exactly the kind of steady track record the Falcons were looking for.
Aukerman said that experience still matters, especially when a kicker is working through a rough patch.
“This guy's done it in a long time in the NFL, and he's been consistent the past couple of years. We've got to get him back in that rhythm.”
For the Falcons, the message is simple: don’t overthink it, don’t chase a streak, and treat every attempt like its own job.
“It's one kick at a time. It's not, ‘Hey, we need to make this many in a row.’ We need to do one kick at a time, whether it's a 33-yarder, whether it's a 54-yarder.”
Atlanta’s confidence in Folk comes at a rough moment for the team as a whole. The Falcons are coming off a 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and enter Thursday night at 0-2.
Aukerman also talked about the challenge of working with a kicker who has been around the league for nearly two decades.
“There's a big balance. My thing is, I go over there and just talk to him, see what he's feeling.
‘Hey, how'd the hit go? What do you think about your steps?’
And then just kind of give him some space because I know he wants that.
“He wants to figure out things on his own. And then it's my job just to go in there and maybe give him one piece of advice.”
According to Aukerman, Folk has been clear that he prefers to sort things out himself.
“Nick, obviously, in some of the games when I go and talk to him, he's like, ‘Don't worry, I got it, Craig.’”
Atlanta would also benefit from giving Folk a little less long-distance work. Two of his three misses have come from beyond 50 yards, and the Falcons remain the only team in the NFL not to run a play inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
For now, though, the plan is straightforward: stick with Folk, lean on his resume, keep the mechanics clean, and let the offense help where it can.
“My biggest thing is I'm always there to support him. I'm there to support any of the players.”
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