Former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has been suspended for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season for violations of the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, the league announced June 26.
The suspension, which was expected, brings an element of closure to a scandal that rocked the Ravens franchise after a series of stories by the Baltimore Banner included accusations that Tucker had engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with more than a dozen massage therapists at Baltimore-area spas.
Tucker had vehemently denied the allegations, first published not long after the 2024 season ended, in a series of posts on social media. In a statement released after the suspension was announced, his agent reiterated that Tucker “stands by his previous statements.”
The Ravens released Tucker, a five-time First-Team All-Pro and the most accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history, on May 5 with the league’s investigation ongoing.
Attorneys representing some of the accusers said in a statement that the NFL investigation “validated the experiences told by each of the victims.”
Attorneys for 13 of the accusers have scheduled a news conference for June 27, according to Fox Baltimore.
Tucker’s agent, Rob Roche, released a statement saying, “We are disappointed with the NFL’s decision. Justin has always strived to carry himself in a way that would make his family and community proud. He stands by his previous statements. In order to put this difficult episode behind him and get back on the field as soon as possible, we have advised Justin to accept this resolution and close this matter.”
The Ravens had been under considerable pressure throughout the spring to move on from Tucker, but they repeatedly deferred to the ongoing NFL investigation.
In late April, the team drafted Tyler Loop, marking the first time in franchise history the team had drafted a kicker. (Tucker had been signed as an undrafted rookie.) Rather than have Loop compete against Tucker, and deal with any added distractions Tucker’s presence might bring, the team parted ways with Tucker before on-field OTA workouts began.
The Ravens also signed undrafted rookie kicker John Hoyland, and he and Loop will enter training camp competing for Tucker’s former job.
When Tucker was released, general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement that, “Sometimes football decisions are incredibly difficult, and this is one of those instances.”
“Justin created many significant and unforgettable moments in Ravens history,” DeCosta continued. “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.”
The statement was widely criticized, given that it made no mention of the allegations, and that the move was explained as a football decision although the team had not played a game since the allegations first surfaced.
Asked a few weeks later to clarify, head coach John Harbaugh said it was a “multi-layer” decision and “complicated.”
“But in the end, it all comes back to what you have to do to get ready for your team to play the first game. And I think if you step back and take a look at all the issues and all the ramifications, you can understand that we’ve got to get our football team ready, and we’ve got to have a kicker ready to go. That was the move that we decided to make, so in that sense, it’s a football decision.”
Since being cut by the Ravens, Tucker remains a free agent. According to the league’s rules regarding suspensions, Tucker can take part in any training camp and play in preseason games before his suspension takes effect on Aug. 26, the day teams must set their 53-man rosters. He would be eligible to apply for reinstatement on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Tucker’s suspension can be served even if he is unsigned at the time.
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