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The Baltimore Ravens have officially cut ties with Justin Tucker, ending his 13-year run with the team, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move comes shortly after the team drafted his replacement, Tyler Loop, in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
Ravens released kicker Justin Tucker. After drafting kicker Tyler Loop, the organization continues to insist it is a “football decision.” pic.twitter.com/le7EXuYqIp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 5, 2025
Tucker’s departure isn’t just about on-field performance. He’s facing serious allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior from multiple massage therapists at several spas throughout the Baltimore area, according to Schefter.
Despite these troubling off-field issues, Ravens brass is sticking to their “football-only” narrative.
Statement from Ravens Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta: pic.twitter.com/PGZxdLqVRa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 5, 2025
Loop Steps In As Ravens Move Forward
Let’s be real – Tucker’s leaving Baltimore as arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history. His career 89.1% accuracy rate on 468 field goal attempts still tops the all-time list. But the football reasons for his release are legitimate, just as DeCosta pointed out.
The writing was on the wall as soon as Baltimore spent that sixth-round pick on Loop.
Keeping both kickers would’ve been impractical, and cutting Loop immediately would’ve wasted valuable draft capital. Tucker’s performance had also fallen off a cliff – he hit just 73.3% of his kicks last season (22-of-30), ranking him among the NFL’s least reliable kickers.
The move gives Baltimore an extra $4.2 million in cap space if designated as a post-June 1 cut.
Tucker’s decline was dramatic by any standard. Among kickers with 30+ attempts last season, his 73.3% conversion rate ranked second-worst in the entire league. When you factor in his age (35) and that hefty contract, the Ravens’ decision makes perfect financial sense – regardless of the off-field situation.
Loop brings an impressive collegiate resume from Arizona, where he nailed 98.4% of his extra points and connected on 83.8% of field goals over five seasons with the Wildcats. While rookies always represent some uncertainty, Baltimore’s betting that almost any change represents an upgrade over Tucker’s recent performance.
