For the first time in over a decade, the Baltimore Ravens are moving forward without Justin Tucker. The franchise’s all-time leading scorer—and NFL's all-time most accurate kicker—was released on Monday, officially ending a 13-year run filled with unforgettable moments and unmatched consistency.
The decision comes just days after the Ravens drafted Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Loop kicked for the first time at their rookie minicamp, signaling the beginning of what many saw as a real competition. While the NFL’s investigation into off-field allegations involving Tucker is still ongoing, the Ravens have emphasized that this decision was made for football reasons.
In a statement released by the team, General Manager Eric DeCosta called the move one of the most difficult decisions of his tenure:
“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.
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.”
The Ravens chose performance and planning over legacy
It's a rather unceremonious end to Tucker's career, but one that makes sense. His release follows the worst statistical season of his career, with a 73.3% field goal rate and several high-profile misses. Furthermore, the Ravens will clear $4.2 million in cap space, assuming he's designated as a post-June 1 cut.
Though he finished strong down the stretch, it wasn’t enough to ease concerns about his declining performance. His 73.3% accuracy can't be understated. Among 20 kickers with at least 30 field goal attempts, his conversion rate ranked second-worst in the league. Given his age (35) and the cap space freed up by cutting him, the decision makes plenty of football sense.
Add in the investment in Loop, and the picture becomes clearer.
Loop now steps into one of the biggest special teams jobs in football. The Ravens see real potential in his powerful leg and consistent mechanics, and by all accounts, he’s already impressed his new coaches. He drilled an Arizona-record 62-yard field goal last season—so the kid clearly has some juice.
Replacing Tucker was never going to be easy. But the Ravens didn’t wait around. They made the decision—and it’s one they hope secures the position for the next decade-plus.