John Harbaugh Confirms ‘Difficult’ Decision for $4.2M Benefit Amid NFL’s Investigation Against Justin Tucker

There was a time—just a few seasons ago—when every Ravens game ended with a camera panning to one man: No. 9, calmly drilling game-winners like he was born for it. Justin Tucker didn’t just make kicks; he made moments. And for over a decade, Baltimore counted on that leg like clockwork. But as the offseason winds down in 2025, the most reliable leg in football has finally lost its grip on the Ravens’ future.

“It’s worth it if you have the right kicker. It just depends on the board, it depends on the player, and it depends on how the coaches see him.” That’s what Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said before the 2025 draft, when asked whether the team would consider taking a placekicker. At the time, his answer was non-committal—but the Ravens’ decision on Day 3 of the draft revealed everything. The team selected Tyler Loop, the standout kicker from Arizona, in the sixth round. The move came amid growing uncertainty about longtime kicker Justin Tucker, and what followed made that uncertainty official.

On Monday, the Ravens announced that Tucker—a 7-time Pro Bowler and franchise legend—has been released from the roster after 13 seasons. The release came three months after off-field allegations surfaced, prompting a league investigation. In an official statement, GM Eric DeCosta noted: “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.”

Tucker’s release will be processed as a post-June 1 designation, a strategy that allows Baltimore to save $4.2 million in cap space this year. Instead of absorbing Tucker’s full $7 million hit in 2025, the Ravens will split it—taking on $2.87 million this year and $4.64 million in 2026. The freed-up space could now be directed toward bolstering other positions as the team prepares for training camp.

For the first time since 2012, the Ravens will enter a season without Justin Tucker, who signed with the team as an undrafted free agent and went on to become the NFL’s all-time most accurate kicker by percentage at several points in his career. He was a key piece of the Super Bowl XLVII championship squad and a symbol of stability in an ever-changing league.

But with Tucker now 35 years old and coming off what was statistically his worst season—where he connected on just 82.5% of his field goals, his lowest since entering the league—the Ravens’ calculus may have shifted even before the allegations came to light.

NFL keeps tabs on Justin Tucker

According to The Baltimore Banner, the NFL is continuing its investigation into multiple claims of inappropriate conduct made by massage therapists. The outlet first reported in January that six women had come forward with allegations, and since then, 10 more have made similar claims—bringing the total to 16. The incidents allegedly occurred across different spas and locations.

Tucker has denied all allegations, stating: “Throughout my career as a professional athlete, I have always sought to conduct myself with the utmost professionalism.” He also called the claims “unequivocally false.” The NFL has not issued a public statement on the timeline of its investigation, and no league discipline has been handed down as of now.

Head coach John Harbaugh addressed the shift just a day before the release was announced. “You’ve got a rookie kicker in here. You took him in the sixth round, early in the sixth round. He’s a talented guy,” Harbaugh said. “Just from a football standpoint—salary cap, all the different things—you take everything into consideration. Whatever we decide to do over the next few weeks will be based on football.” That rookie, Tyler Loop, will now step into some of the biggest shoes ever worn in Baltimore.

CINCINNATI, OH – OCTOBER 06 – Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker 9 arrives before a game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, October 6, 2024. Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA OCT 06 Ravens at Bengals EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon168241006010

Despite the team’s assertion that this was a football decision, the ongoing investigation clearly casts a shadow over Tucker’s next move. Given his resume—Super Bowl winner, 4x first-team All-Pro, and nearly 2,700 career points—Tucker would normally be a top target for any team needing a veteran kicker. But right now, interest will be measured. teams are unlikely to make a move at least until the NFL completes its investigation.

As for the Ravens, they now close a chapter that defined over a decade of their identity. And as Tyler Loop takes the field this summer, the echoes of Justin Tucker’s legacy will still linger in the stadium—but the future is already on its way.

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