You could easily argue that Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is already one of the best kickers of all time.
The nine-year NFL veteran has had an illustrious career complete with four Pro Bowl appearances, four first-team All-Pro honors, and was a unanimous NFL 2010s All-Decade Team selection.
Tucker is also the most accurate kicker in NFL history having connected on 90.65 percent of all field-goal attempts since entering the league in 2012.
Simply put, he’s one of the greats. But according to the man himself, this isn’t even his final form.
Tucker swears that he hasn’t even reached his prime yet.
The Ravens haven’t even seen the best of Justin Tucker yet
When speaking to the media on Monday, Tucker was asked about a potential retirement date as he approaches his 10th NFL season. The 31-year-old seemed to scoff at the question and insisted that retirement isn’t even in consideration.
"“I feel like that question has come up more and more since I turned 30 years old and now that I’m entering my 10th season in the NFL, but I haven’t even hit my prime yet. We’re just getting started. In all seriousness, it is a day-to-day thing. It’s not even day-to-day; it’s one kick to the next – just make the next kick. It’s always been, ‘Make the next kick.'”"
Tucker insisted that he’s just getting started. The most accurate kicker in NFL history hasn’t even hit his prime. That’s quite the concept to consider.
Tucker has made 89 percent of his fields goals in all but two of his NFL seasons. He didn’t miss an extra point for the first six years of his career.
He’s made countless game-winning field goals in crucial moments. It’s hard to imagine a better version of Justin Tucker.
Fortunately for the Ravens, it doesn’t appear as though they’ll be looking for a new kicker anytime soon. While teams around the NFL struggle on a yearly basis to find a reliable placekicker, the Ravens have had one now for a decade.
That’s a gift. That’s a privilege. And it’s one that Ravens fans don’t take for granted.
Justin Tucker isn’t hanging up the cleats anytime in the near future. And the city of Baltimore couldn’t be happier about that.