Justin Tucker is eyeing a return to the NFL, and a new video put that front and center. Teams know a reliable kicker can swing a playoff chase, so this situation calls for stepping back and looking at the full picture.
How Will Justin Tucker’s Return Impact Teams Needing a Steady Kicker?
Recently, a video surfaced showing Tucker working toward a comeback after serving a 10-game suspension, and he has already drawn interest from multiple teams. Having a quality kicker can separate a playoff team from one that misses the cut, and that reality is shaping how front offices view the next few weeks. After time away, the focus now shifts to timing, fit, and how quickly a special teams unit can sync.
Even though Tucker is suspended, that does not prevent him from practicing. While the Baltimore Ravens released him, the 35-year-old can return to the NFL 10 days before his 36th birthday. Born and raised in Austin, TX, Tucker recently visited his alma mater to get in a few extra reps.
“Seven-time Pro Bowl kicker Justin Tucker is working out at his alma mater, the University of Texas, where he recently recreated his 18 game-winning field goals from 2012-24,” NFL Insider Tom Pelissero said. “Tucker, 35, is eligible to return from suspension Nov. 11 and already has interest from several teams.”
Seven-time Pro Bowl kicker Justin Tucker is working out at his alma mater, the University of Texas, where he recently recreated his 18 game-winning field goals from 2012-24.
Tucker, 35, is eligible to return from suspension Nov. 11 and already has interest from several teams. pic.twitter.com/wZEGVH0kEx
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 4, 2025
While Pelissero did not specify which teams have interest, that detail adds another layer, as Tucker was suspended due to sexual misconduct violations. In total, 16 massage therapists came forward to address allegations from 2012 to 2016. Even with the allegations dating back over a decade, they remain a serious matter that the NFL treats with clear standards, and teams also understand the weight of that.
In a situation similar to that of Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson, Tucker showed plenty of leg in the four-minute video Pelissero posted. Even though Tucker denied all of the allegations, he served the suspension, and the Ravens released him. Tucker, who many consider one of the greatest kickers of all time, will be eligible to return in Week 11.
Week 11’s slate begins with the New York Jets taking on the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football. That game is set for Thursday, November 13, two days after Tucker would be able to return. For a kicker, teams can sign one and put him into games at any time, and while a few reps are needed to sync with the snapper and holder, it is not the same as learning a whole playbook.
Tucker has an 89.1% career field goal percentage. He has drilled 64 kicks from 50+ yards, contributing 1775 points in his 13-year NFL career. All 13 seasons were spent in Baltimore, which is currently 13th in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.