The Baltimore Ravens are starting fresh at kicker for the first time in over a decade. After years of relying on one of the NFL’s most reliable legs, everything changed in a matter of months.
Rookie Tyler Loop made his official NFL debut under the brightest of spotlights on Sunday Night Football, replacing legendary kicker Justin Tucker after an offseason of controversy and upheaval for Baltimore’s special teams. This marked the beginning of the Loop era, one nobody saw coming in Baltimore.
Who Is Tyler Loop and What Happened to Justin Tucker?
Since 2012, Tucker was Baltimore’s rock. The five-time All-Pro and the most accurate kicker in NFL history was the Ravens’ secret weapon in close games and clutch moments. However, it was an offseason clouded by misconduct allegations that led to his abrupt release in May, forcing Baltimore to find a new kicker who could handle the pressure.
Enter Loop, a 24-year-old from Lucas, Texas, who played at the University of Arizona. The Ravens made Loop the first kicker they’d ever drafted, selecting him in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft in April.
He impressed the Ravens’ front office during his time at Arizona, converting 67 of 80 field goal attempts during his college career. That impressive record includes a school record 62-yard field goal as a Wildcat.
That’s a PROGRAM RECORD 62-yarder from @tyler_loop!! 🤯
📺 FS1 pic.twitter.com/bXKxlnkcKR
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 16, 2024
Loop seized his opportunity in training camp and preseason, going 5-for-6 on field goal attempts in a preseason win against Dallas, including makes from 51 and 53 yards. Across three preseason games, he went 9-of-11 on field goals and a perfect 8-of-8 on extra points.
His signature moment came in the preseason finale against the Washington Commanders, when he nailed a 61-yard field goal that really got Ravens fans buzzing about their new kicker’s potential.
How Did Loop Win Over Coach John Harbaugh?
Head coach John Harbaugh didn’t hesitate when asked about his confidence in the rookie. Loop had “earned it” and would enter the regular season as the team’s new starting kicker.
“Yes, I do. [Tyler Loop] will be the kicker,” Harbaugh said when asked if he was confident in Loop as the team’s kicker. “I just appreciate the fact that he wants to make them all.”
Loop’s journey to the NFL has been defined by relentless work and adaptability. As a freshman at Arizona, he was a punter but took over the kicking job and never let go, earning praise for his steadiness and willingness to learn.
The mental side of kicking might be the most challenging aspect for any rookie. In an interview ahead of Week 1, Loop described being “really excited” for his debut, crediting Ravens special teams coaches and veterans for helping him develop a process that lets him control nerves and stay focused.
Tyler Loop. Automatic. pic.twitter.com/rTlFhJBiAz
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) September 8, 2025
“Having that mindset of, I’ve been kicking a football on a big stage since college, and now in the NFL, it’s fun,” Loop said. “It’s the same game, it’s the same operation, and it’s just really exciting.”
The early returns couldn’t be better. In his debut, Loop has been perfect, nailing both extra points and his first career field goal attempt from 52 yards out. For a team that lost a Hall of Fame-caliber kicker under difficult circumstances, Loop’s steady start provides hope that Baltimore’s special teams unit can remain a strength.