If you ever needed proof that the Baltimore Ravens were destined for greatness at kicker, look no further than their decision to pass on Graham Gano in 2009.
Back then, Gano was just an undrafted rookie out of Florida State, hoping to catch on with Baltimore after an impressive college career. The Ravens gave him a shot, but Gano didn’t make the final cut. Fast forward three years, and that “failure” opened the door for the Ravens to land Justin Tucker, the greatest kicker in NFL history.
Timing is everything, and in this case, Gano’s inability to stick with Baltimore was the best thing that could have happened—for the Ravens, anyway. Gano eventually found his way, kicking for the Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, and now the New York Giants.
He’s carved out a respectable career, including a Pro Bowl nod and a 63-yard game-winner in 2018. But the Ravens didn’t just settle for a “respectable” kicker—they struck gold with Tucker, a player who’s redefined what it means to be a weapon in today’s NFL.
Let’s go back to where it started. In 2009, Baltimore was looking for a replacement for longtime kicker Matt Stover. Steven Hauschka was serviceable, but the team brought in Gano for a workout during camp. Ultimately, they didn’t see enough to offer him a contract. Hauschka didn’t pan out either, and the Ravens turned to Billy Cundiff later that season. That led to the infamous AFC Championship miss in 2011—the heartbreak that forced Baltimore to reevaluate the position altogether.
Justin Tucker is a Raven because Graham Gano couldn't kick it
Here’s where it gets good. After Cundiff’s choke job, the Ravens turned to another undrafted kicker in 2012—Justin Tucker, fresh out of Texas. Unlike Gano, Tucker not only made the roster but quickly established himself as the best in the business. By the end of his rookie season, he was hoisting a Lombardi Trophy.
Over the next decade, Tucker would cement himself as the greatest kicker of all time, breaking records left and right while delivering some of the most clutch moments in NFL history.
Meanwhile, Gano’s career took a different path. He bounced between teams before finding stability with Washington and later Carolina. He was a Pro Bowler in 2017 and has hit some clutch kicks, including that 63-yard game-winner for the Panthers in 2018. But in a comparison with Tucker, it’s not even close. Gano is good; Tucker is legendary.
Granted, Tucker’s 2024 season hasn’t been his best. Fans have been understandably frustrated as the once-automatic kicker has struggled, including costly misses in the Ravens’ Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Critics have gone so far as to suggest bringing in a backup kicker for insurance—a laughable idea, considering Tucker’s unmatched history of brilliance. Even in a slump, Tucker is better than any alternative. And let’s be honest: no Ravens fan is ready to trust a playoff game to a guy off the couch in December.
DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?!?!
— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2021
JUSTIN TUCKER 66-YARD FIELD GOAL FOR THE WIN! #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/LyHkSUiwk9
The irony of it all? If Graham Gano had been good enough to make the Ravens’ roster in 2009, there’s a very real chance Justin Tucker never lands in Baltimore. Think about that. One missed opportunity in 2009 set up the greatest free-agent signing in franchise history.
As the two teams face off in Week 15, Gano will stand on the opposite sideline, looking to prove that the Ravens made a mistake all those years ago. He’s had a solid career, without a doubt. But Baltimore doesn’t settle for "good” when it comes to kickers—they strive for greatness. And Justin Tucker? He’s not just great. He’s the GOAT.