For over a decade, Justin Tucker was widely viewed as one of the safest bets in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens kicker built a Hall of Fame résumé through unprecedented accuracy, clutch performances, and a seemingly spotless off-field reputation. But now, the league’s most consistent leg is at the center of serious allegations — and it may be enough to end his career altogether.
Tucker, who holds the NFL record for field goal accuracy (89.1%) and owns a Super Bowl ring from his rookie season, is facing civil litigation from 16 massage therapists across eight Baltimore-area spas. They’ve accused him of inappropriate conduct, with alleged incidents spanning from 2012 to 2016. Tucker has denied all allegations. No criminal charges have been filed, but the NFL has opened an investigation — and the court of public opinion is already heating up.
NFL Voices Suggest Baltimore Ravens K Justin Tucker May Be Done
During a segment on SiriusXM Blitz, host Bruce Murray drew a jarring comparison to former Ravens running back Ray Rice, whose career ended immediately after video evidence surfaced of a domestic violence incident.
“I said going into break that he may have something in common with the Ray Rice,” Murray said. “And that’s this: After the allegations, not the allegations, the video supporting the allegations into the misconduct by Ray Rice never played football again. And I would say this, when you played the position that Justin Tucker does, as I said to you, you’re Deshaun Watson, you’re a quarterback. There’s a team that is going to be willing to take on the public scrutiny that comes with signing a player that has an off the field issue.
“I think there’s a better than likelihood, short of it being completely exonerated by an investigation that I think will take a long time. Short of that, I think Justin Tucker has probably played his last game in the National Football League.”
That position-specific context matters. Watson, a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, returned to action despite facing over two dozen civil suits — because the value of a franchise quarterback is nearly unmatched. But kickers don’t get the same leash, especially one whose play has declined. Tucker, 35, is coming off the worst season of his career, converting just 73.3% of his field goal attempts and finishing with his lowest total makes (22) in a full season.
NFL analyst Kirk Morrison agreed with Murray, noting that while these are still civil suits without criminal charges, the optics may be too toxic for teams to look past.
“I just think in the landscape of the NFL … you mentioned the backlash that comes along with it. Do teams want to have that sort of backlash? And again, a lot of this depends on how this plays out. Maybe in the NFL’s investigation, because I have not seen any criminal charges be brought on to Justin Tucker, these are alleged incidents. Right now, these are civil litigation suits. So this isn’t that the same case that you had with Deshaun Watson.”
But in today’s NFL, perception can be just as damaging as prosecution. Tucker’s future may hinge on the outcome of the league’s investigation, but some insiders are already bracing for the end. And given his age, dip in performance, and the position he plays, the odds of a second chance are growing slimmer by the day.
Will the NFL’s most accurate kicker ever get to add another chapter to his career — or is this legacy already sealed, for better or worse? And to go one step further, could the outcome affect his candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame?