NFL Suspends Kicker Justin Tucker Following Misconduct Allegations
The NFL has handed down a significant disciplinary action against prominent former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, suspending him for 10 regular-season games following an investigation into multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
The league announced the suspension on June 26, 2025, citing violations of the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. While Tucker is currently a free agent, the suspension is set to take effect on roster cutdown day, August 26, 2025. He will be eligible for reinstatement by the league on November 11, 2025, regardless of whether he is signed to a team by that date. According to the NFL, if Tucker were to sign with a team during the offseason, he would still be permitted to attend training camp and participate in preseason games before the suspension begins.
Tucker’s agent, Rob Roche, expressed disappointment with the league’s decision but reportedly advised his client to accept the penalty to facilitate a return to playing.
Details of the Allegations and Investigation
The allegations against the 35-year-old kicker stem from complaints made by 16 massage therapists in the Baltimore area. These alleged incidents reportedly occurred over a period spanning from 2012 to 2016.
Accusations first publicly emerged in January 2025, when six therapists came forward. This was followed by reports from three additional individuals and then seven more, bringing the total number of accusers to 16 from multiple spas and wellness centers. The nature of the allegations reportedly included inappropriate behavior, such as exposing himself during sessions, asking for massages on his pelvic region or inner thighs while he had an erection, and making inappropriate physical contact. Some reports from accusers detailed finding what they believed to be ejaculate on massage tables after his sessions.
Following the initial reports, the NFL launched its own investigation into the claims in February. Reports indicate that the league’s findings reportedly validated the experiences shared by the accusers. Michael Belsky, an attorney representing many of the alleged victims, stated that the NFL’s findings supported the accusers’ accounts and criticized Tucker for not apologizing.
Tucker’s Denial and the Ravens’ Decision to Release
Justin Tucker has adamantly and publicly denied all allegations of wrongdoing since they first surfaced. He has called the claims “unequivocally false,” asserting that any interactions were misconstrued. His wife, Amanda, has also publicly defended him, expressing her full belief in his innocence and highlighting the pain the allegations have caused their family.
Despite the serious nature of the accusations and the ongoing NFL investigation, the Baltimore Ravens released Tucker in early May 2025, shortly after the initial reports became widespread. The team maintained that the decision was purely a “football decision,” not directly tied to the misconduct allegations.
Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta described the move as “incredibly difficult” given Tucker’s history with the team but necessary for preparing the team for the upcoming season. Coach John Harbaugh also characterized the decision as a “complex,” “multi-layered,” and “complicated” process. The timing of the release came after the Ravens drafted kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, a move that appears to have influenced the team’s decision to move forward without Tucker before the conclusion of the NFL’s investigation was announced. Releasing Tucker before June 1 resulted in a $7.5 million dead cap charge for the Ravens in 2025, but it cleared his salary from future years.
Career Context
Before his release and suspension, Justin Tucker was widely regarded as the most accurate kicker in NFL history, boasting a career field goal percentage around 89 percent. However, he was coming off a statistically down season in 2024-25, converting just 73.3 percent of his field goal attempts, which was a career worst.
The 10-game suspension places Tucker’s situation in the context of other player disciplinary actions under the Personal Conduct Policy; for comparison, quarterback Deshaun Watson previously received an 11-game suspension for similar allegations.
While Tucker remains a free agent, his eligibility to return to the field will now be delayed until mid-November 2025 due to the league’s ruling.
