The Baltimore Ravens have ended their 13-year relationship with kicker Justin Tucker, a move that sent shockwaves through the NFL given his status as one of the greatest kickers in league history. As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the release came on May 5, 2025, amid an ongoing NFL investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Tucker by 16 massage therapists. The Ravens framed the decision as a “football” one, pointing to their selection of Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft and Tucker’s career-worst 2024 season. However, the timing—less than two weeks after the draft and before the NFL’s investigation concluded—suggests the allegations played a significant role. Let’s unpack the decision, the allegations, Tucker’s legacy, and what’s next for both him and the Ravens.
The allegations against Tucker, first reported by The Baltimore Banner on January 30, 2025, are serious and detailed. Six massage therapists initially accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior during sessions from 2012 to 2016, including exposing his genitals, brushing against therapists with his penis, and leaving what appeared to be ejaculate on massage tables. Two spas banned him, and some therapists ended sessions early or refused to work with him again. By February 16, 10 more women came forward with similar claims, bringing the total to 16 across eight Baltimore-area spas. The NFL launched an investigation in February, interviewing several accusers, but has provided no timeline for its conclusion. Tucker, 35, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “unequivocally false” and “desperate tabloid fodder” in statements on January 30 and February 25. His attorneys, from Clare Locke LLP, argue the claims are speculative and impossible to prove, noting he was never told he was unwelcome at any spa.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta called the allegations “serious” and “concerning” at the NFL Scouting Combine on February 25, but said the team would wait for the league’s findings. President Sashi Brown echoed this in March, emphasizing a “zero-tolerance policy” but insisting on fairness until facts were clear. Yet, the Ravens’ actions tell a different story. Drafting Loop—the first kicker ever selected in the franchise’s 30-year history—signaled Tucker’s days were numbered. Head coach John Harbaugh, speaking at rookie minicamp on May 4, stressed that any decision would be “football-based,” citing salary cap considerations and Loop’s potential. The release, announced by DeCosta on May 5, saved $4.2 million in 2025 cap space via a post-June 1 designation, splitting $7.5 million in dead money over two years. DeCosta’s statement praised Tucker’s “reliability, focus, drive, resilience, and extraordinary talent” but avoided mentioning the allegations, sticking to the “football decision” narrative.
On the field, Tucker’s 2024 season gave the Ravens a football-related justification. His 73.3% field goal percentage (22-of-30) was a career low, down from 86.5% in 2023 and 86.0% in 2022, a far cry from his NFL-record 89.1% career mark. He missed 3-of-8 kicks from 40-49 yards and 6-of-11 from 50-plus, plus two extra points, a stark contrast to his clutch reputation. Still, Tucker’s resume is unmatched: a 66-yard game-winner in 2021 (the longest in NFL history), seven Pro Bowls, five First-team All-Pros, and a key role in Baltimore’s Super Bowl XLVII win as a rookie in 2012. His 417-of-468 field goals and 98.4% extra-point rate (426-of-433) cement him as a likely Hall of Famer. Even in 2024’s playoffs, he was perfect, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points. But at 35, with a $7.1 million cap hit in 2025 and no guaranteed money left on his four-year, $24 million extension from 2022, the Ravens saw a chance to move on.
The decision wasn’t without controversy. Some fans and analysts on X questioned the timing, with one post arguing, “Cutting Tucker before the investigation’s done feels like they’re dodging the PR hit but using ‘football’ as a cover.” Others supported the move, citing Loop’s 83.8% field goal rate at Arizona and Tucker’s decline: “73.3% isn’t gonna cut it, allegations or not.” The Ravens’ “zero-tolerance” stance, referenced by Harbaugh in 2022 regarding Deshaun Watson’s case, looms large. Watson, accused of similar misconduct by over 20 women, was suspended for 11 games and fined $5 million, but only after a massive contract. Tucker faces no criminal charges—the statute of limitations has expired for potential indecent exposure or battery claims—and no civil lawsuits have been filed, but the NFL’s personal conduct policy could still bring a suspension if he signs elsewhere.
For the Ravens, Loop is the presumed starter. The rookie’s college stats—67-of-80 field goals, 98.4% on extra points—don’t match Tucker’s prime, but his youth (23) and cheaper contract ($915,000 cap hit) fit Baltimore’s long-term plan. The team’s 2024 special teams, which ranked eighth in DVOA, leaned on Tucker’s leg, but his misses cost them in close losses (e.g., a 49-yard miss in a 27-24 defeat to Kansas City). With a 12-5 record and an AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs in 2024, the Ravens are built to contend, led by Lamar Jackson’s 4,512 passing yards and Derrick Henry’s 1,325 rushing yards. They can’t afford special teams slip-ups, and Loop’s 52-yard college long offers hope he can handle pressure.
Tucker’s future is murkier. His denial of the allegations, backed by testimonials from therapists like D’Lena Young who called him “professional” and “honorable,” suggests he’ll fight to clear his name. His legal team’s defamation expertise hints at potential countersuits against The Baltimore Banner, though no action has been filed. At 35, Tucker could still draw interest from kicker-needy teams like the Giants (27-of-37 FGs in 2024) or Commanders (25-of-34), especially if the NFL’s investigation clears him. His 2024 struggles might limit him to a veteran-minimum deal, but a 2023 season where he hit 32-of-37 field goals shows he’s not washed. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec noted Tucker’s “Hall of Fame-caliber numbers,” and a fresh start could revive his career.
