The Baltimore Ravens have released longtime kicker Justin Tucker, a move that brings one of the most storied careers in franchise history to a sudden and controversial close. The decision comes as the NFL continues to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against the 35-year-old kicker stemming from incidents that allegedly took place during his early years in the league.
Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta described the decision as rooted in football considerations but acknowledged its difficulty, calling Tucker “one of the league’s best kickers for over a decade.”
“Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances,” DeCosta said in a statement Monday. “Justin created many unforgettable moments in Ravens history. We wish him and his family the very best moving forward.”
Allegations Span Tucker’s Early NFL Seasons
The NFL investigation focuses on allegations made by 16 massage therapists from eight Baltimore-area spas. According to reporting by The Baltimore Banner, the alleged misconduct took place between 2012 and 2016, covering Tucker’s rookie contract period. Several therapists reportedly refused to work with Tucker again, and two spas allegedly banned him from returning.
Tucker has denied any wrongdoing. His legal team called the accusations “categorically false” and criticized the Banner’s report as “reckless tabloid journalism.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell previously described the claims as “serious,” though the league has not issued any formal disciplinary ruling and continues to gather information.
Performance Decline Raises Football Questions
Though DeCosta emphasized that the decision was about football, Tucker’s release follows the worst statistical season of his career. In 2024, he converted just 22 of 30 field goal attempts, a career-low 73.3% success rate that ranked near the bottom of the league.
Tucker’s struggles on the field coincided with Baltimore selecting Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of April’s NFL Draft—the first time the Ravens have ever drafted a kicker.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh noted Sunday that the final decision on the position would be performance-based. “Whatever we decide to do over the next few weeks will be based on football,” Harbaugh said following rookie minicamp, where Loop made his first on-field impression with team officials.
Contract Implications and Cap Relief
Tucker’s release voids the remaining three years on his $22 million contract, which had made him the highest-paid kicker in the league. None of his 2025 salary—$4.2 million—was guaranteed, allowing the Ravens to recoup that amount against the salary cap.
If designated as a post-June 1 release, Baltimore could spread out Tucker’s $7.5 million in dead money across two seasons, offering further financial flexibility.
A Legacy Marred by Controversy
Tucker leaves Baltimore as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most recognizable faces of the last decade. Undrafted out of the University of Texas in 2012, he quickly rose to prominence with his consistency and leg strength, becoming the most accurate kicker in NFL history (89.1%).
He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, a five-time First-Team All-Pro, and famously kicked a 66-yard game-winning field goal in 2021—still the longest in league history.
He was also the last remaining member of the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII-winning team.
In addition to his on-field accolades, Tucker built a public persona as an opera-trained singer and local celebrity in Baltimore, known for his playful commercials and fan engagement.
Uncertain Future
Despite his résumé, Tucker now enters free agency under the cloud of an ongoing investigation and a sharp statistical decline. If signed by another team, he would still be subject to potential league discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
For now, the Ravens are moving forward with a new era at the kicker position while one of the most accomplished special teams careers in NFL history ends not with celebration, but with questions.
Key Details:
- Player Released: Justin Tucker
- Team: Baltimore Ravens
- Tenure: 13 seasons (2012–2024)
- NFL Investigation: 16 allegations of misconduct, 2012–2016
- Ravens’ New Kicker: Tyler Loop (6th-round pick, 2025)
- Contract Impact: $4.2M salary cleared, $7.5M dead cap potential
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