Ravens Release Justin Tucker Amidst Allegations of Misconduct

The Baltimore Ravens have made a surprising move, releasing veteran kicker Justin Tucker, a decision the organization is framing as a purely football-related one. However, the release comes amidst serious allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against Tucker by multiple massage therapists. The Ravens drafted Arizona’s Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the recent NFL draft, further fueling speculation that Tucker’s future with the team was in jeopardy, particularly following a subpar season by his usual standards.

Ravens executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta released a statement emphasizing the difficulty of the decision, stating, "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." DeCosta praised Tucker’s contributions to the team, adding, "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." He concluded by expressing gratitude for Tucker’s service and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

The timing of Tucker’s release, however, raises questions about the true motivation behind the Ravens’ decision. Sixteen massage therapists from eight different Baltimore spa and wellness centers have accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior, with alleged incidents occurring between 2012 and 2016. These allegations cast a dark shadow over Tucker’s reputation and potentially influenced the Ravens’ decision, regardless of their public statements.

According to reports, the NFL is actively investigating the sexual misconduct allegations against Tucker, with investigators interviewing the accusers to gather information and assess the validity of their claims. The league’s involvement underscores the seriousness of the accusations and the potential repercussions for Tucker’s career.

Tucker has vehemently denied all allegations, issuing a statement on social media in which he described them as "unequivocally false." He asserted his commitment to professionalism throughout his career and denied ever receiving complaints or acting inappropriately during massage therapy sessions. "Throughout my career as a professional athlete, I have always sought to conduct myself with the utmost professionalism. I have never before been accused of misconduct of any kind, and I have never been accused of acting inappropriately in front of a massage therapist or during a massage therapy session or during other bodywork," Tucker stated.

The allegations against Tucker first surfaced in a report by The Baltimore Banner, which detailed the accounts of six massage therapists who accused him of exposing himself repeatedly during massage sessions. Subsequently, additional women came forward, bringing the total number of accusers to sixteen. The women’s accounts reportedly share similar themes, painting a disturbing picture of alleged misconduct.

Ravens president Sashi Brown addressed the allegations against Tucker during the league’s annual meeting in March, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. He emphasized that investigations of this nature are complex and time-consuming, with no fixed timeline for completion. "That’s never satisfying to anybody involved, probably including Justin and the folks that made the allegations," Brown said, via the team’s website.

Brown also highlighted the courage required for women to come forward with such claims, noting, "But this is an issue, generally as a society in terms of women making claims that takes a lot of courage and bravery, and frankly as a society we haven’t gotten right for too long. From our standpoint, we want to make sure we have great understanding of the facts, hear both sides of the situation and that we allow the investigation to be properly conducted and concluded and make decisions based on full information."

While the Ravens are publicly attributing Tucker’s release to football-related factors, particularly the drafting of Tyler Loop and Tucker’s recent performance decline, the allegations of sexual misconduct undoubtedly complicated the situation. The team’s decision-making process likely involved weighing Tucker’s on-field contributions against the potential reputational damage and legal ramifications associated with the allegations.

Tucker, who is 35 years old, is a five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler. He holds the NFL record for career field goal percentage at 89.1%. However, he experienced a dip in performance during the 2024 season, making only 73.3% of his field goal attempts, his worst year in the NFL. He converted 22 of 30 field goal attempts, struggling particularly from longer distances, missing three of eight attempts from 40-49 yards and six of eleven attempts from 50 yards and beyond. He also missed two of his 62 extra point attempts.

Despite the recent struggles, Tucker’s overall track record as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history is undeniable. His release raises questions about his future in the league, as the allegations of sexual misconduct could deter other teams from signing him, regardless of his football ability.

The Ravens’ decision to draft Tyler Loop in the sixth round signaled a potential change at the kicker position. Loop’s arrival created immediate speculation about Tucker’s future with the team, particularly given Tucker’s age, recent performance, and the looming allegations.

The situation surrounding Justin Tucker underscores the complexities faced by professional sports teams when dealing with allegations of misconduct against their players. The Ravens’ handling of the situation will be closely scrutinized, as they attempt to balance their commitment to player performance with their responsibility to address serious allegations of wrongdoing. The NFL’s investigation into the allegations will also play a crucial role in determining Tucker’s future and the broader implications for the league’s approach to handling sexual misconduct claims.