Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh publicly discussed the complicated factors that led to the team‘s decision to release star kicker Justin Tucker earlier this May. While the move was officially framed as a football decision, it took place amid an ongoing NFL investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct involving multiple massage therapists at Baltimore-area spas from 2012 to 2016, which Tucker has denied. Harbaugh emphasized that the release was made after careful consideration by several top team leaders focused on the future.

Harbaugh Highlights the Toughness of the Decision

In his first public comments on the matter, Harbaugh acknowledged Tucker’s exceptional career but described the situation as “multi-layered” and “complicated.” He explained that the decision ultimately centered on preparing the football team for upcoming competition. Harbaugh said,

“I mean, you’re talking about arguably the best kicker in the history of the game,”

adding,

“And like we said, it’s multi-layered, it’s 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 you 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 gotta have a kicker to go. And that was the move that we decided to make.”

Justin Tucker’s Accomplishments and Recent Challenges

Justin Tucker had been a cornerstone of the Ravens for 13 seasons, earning eight All-Pro honors and seven Pro Bowl selections. He holds both the record for the longest field goal in NFL history at 66 yards and the highest career field goal accuracy at 89.1 percent, with a minimum of 100 attempts. Despite these milestones, Tucker faced a difficult 2024 season, converting just 73.3 percent of his field goals—the lowest success rate of his career. This decline, combined with the backdrop of off-field allegations, set the stage for the Ravens’ difficult decision.

Team’s Focus Shifts to New Kickers Amid Ongoing Competition

Harbaugh noted that the team’s priority now is to concentrate fully on preparing new kickers for the season ahead. He stated,

“So, in that sense, it’s a football decision and now we have to spend all of our focus and our time to get these kickers ready. We’ve got a competition going on to get these guys ready to go make kicks. So that’s all I’m thinking about. From my perspective, it’s like, ‘We gotta have to have a kicker out there making kicks,’ and what’s the best way to get that done?”

The Ravens’ recent moves hint at a transition at the kicker position. For the first time in franchise history, Baltimore used a draft pick on a kicker, selecting Tyler Loop from Arizona in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The addition of undrafted rookie John Hoyland from Wyoming also set the stage for an open competition between the newcomers and any other candidates.

Implications of the Release and What Lies Ahead

Releasing a player with Justin Tucker’s Hall of Fame credentials marks a significant moment for the Ravens. While this decision aims to address immediate team needs and ensure readiness for the upcoming season, it also signals a shift in the organization’s approach to the kicker position. As the Ravens move forward, the competition among new kickers will define how the team adapts following Tucker’s departure, all while the NFL’s investigation into off-field allegations continues to loom over the situation.