The Baltimore Ravens announced on Monday that they had made the difficult decision to release Justin Tucker, months after he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by several massage therapists. The Ravens did not reference these allegations in their official release, instead framing the decision as a “football” decision.
General manager Eric DeCosta explained, “Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances. Considering our current roster, we have made the tough decision to release Justin Tucker.” The announcement followed reports from local media, including The Baltimore Banner, that more than a dozen massage therapists from spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area had accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior.
The allegations against Tucker are serious, with claims that he exposed his genitals, made inappropriate contact, and left ejaculate on treatment tables. Two spas have confirmed that Tucker was banned from their locations, and some of the therapists who spoke about the incidents described his alleged behavior as degrading. One therapist shared, “I can’t watch sports anymore. I see his face everywhere.” Despite these claims, Tucker has denied the allegations, maintaining that he acted appropriately with all of his accusers. The NFL is currently investigating the matter.
Despite the ongoing investigation, the Ravens opted to part ways with Tucker, in part due to his performance in the 2024 season. Though Tucker is widely regarded as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history, he had one of the worst seasons of his career, making just 73.3% of his field goals, a significant drop from his career average of 89.1%.
In the wake of Tucker’s release, the Ravens’ decision to draft rookie kicker Tyler Loop in this year’s draft raised further questions about Tucker’s future with the team. While Tucker had been a fixture in the Ravens’ special teams unit for over a decade, holding the records for longest field goal and career field goal percentage, the team was clearly preparing for the possibility of moving on from him.
Tucker’s legacy with the Ravens is significant. He is the last remaining player from the team’s most recent Super Bowl win in 2012, which came during his rookie season. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times during his career and was renowned for his reliability, focus, and resilience. Tucker’s impact on the team and the franchise’s history cannot be overstated, as his performances on the field provided many unforgettable moments.
However, the Ravens also faced practical considerations, including the salary cap and the team’s overall roster management. Coach John Harbaugh had previously noted that all decisions would be based on football matters, emphasizing that the inclusion of Loop, a talented rookie kicker, on the roster meant that the team was not going to make any decisions based on sentimentality. “Every decision we make has to be based on football,” Harbaugh said. “You’ve got a rookie kicker here. You took him in the sixth round, early in the sixth round. He’s a talented guy.”
Tucker had signed a four-year contract extension in 2022, which included $17.5 million in guaranteed money. Despite the difficult decision to move on from him, DeCosta acknowledged Tucker’s immense contribution to the team, saying, “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.”
