Ravens Release Justin Tucker

The Baltimore Ravens have kicked off a new era on special teams.

Monday afternoon, the Ravens announced that they released kicker Justin Tucker, ending his 13-year stint with the organization.

Early in the offseason, Tucker was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 Baltimore-area massage therapists. Baltimore rostered Tucker as the NFL began its investigation into the allegations, suggesting that it would wait for the league to come to a conclusion before acting.

Tucker has not yet been punished by the NFL. Amid the allegations, the Ravens maintained that any decision regarding the kicker’s status would be a football decision. Drafting Arizona kicker Tyler Loop during the 2025 NFL Draft gave them insurance in the event they would move on from Tucker. Now, Loop is the frontrunner to replace him.

General manager Eric DeCosta released a statement as the news broke.

“Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances,” he wrote. “Considering our current roster, we have made the decision to release Justin Tucker.

“Justin created many significant and unforgettable moments in Ravens history. His reliability, focus, drive, resilience and extraordinary talent made him one of the league’s best kickers for over a decade.

“We are grateful for Justin’s many contributions while playing for the Ravens. We sincerely wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter of their lives.”

DeCosta emphasized that this decision revolved around on-field contributions in 2025. The Baltimore faithful may not believe him, given the disturbing accusations levied at Tucker and the looming possibility of a suspension complicating the team’s plans on special teams.

Tucker has publicly denied the allegations.

Regardless of whether the Ravens truly made a “football decision” with this release, there is reason to believe that Baltimore would be justified in moving on. Tucker is coming off of easily the worst season of his career. He made just 73.3 percent of his field goals and endured a mid-season slump that threatened Baltimore’s standing in the AFC. Tucker had never made fewer than 82.5 percent of his field goals in any season prior, and still holds the all-time record for field goal percentage.

Tucker’s Ravens career ended with five first-team and three second-team All-Pro selections, seven Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl championship. With an observable decline in production and the aforementioned allegations, Tucker’s NFL future is uncertain.