Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has been suspended for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 NFL regular season, the league announced Thursday. The suspension comes after an NFL investigation found Tucker in violation of its personal conduct policy, stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct by multiple massage therapists.
Tucker, 35, was released by the Ravens on May 5, 2025, after 13 seasons with the team. His release was designated as a post-June 1 move for salary cap reasons, though it followed a series of reports detailing the misconduct allegations. The NFL’s investigation into these claims had been ongoing since January 2025, when The Baltimore Banner first published testimonies from massage therapists.
According to reports, 16 massage therapists from eight high-end spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area accused Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred between 2012 and 2016, during Tucker’s early years with the Ravens. Specific allegations included intentionally exposing his genitals, brushing his penis on therapists, and leaving semen on massage tables after sessions. Some therapists stated that Tucker’s behavior led them to end sessions early or refuse to work with him again, with two spas reportedly banning him.
Justin Tucker has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His agent, Rob Roche, issued a statement expressing disappointment with the NFL’s decision. "Justin has always strived to carry himself in a way that would make his family and community proud. He stands by his previous statements," Roche said, adding that he advised Tucker to accept the resolution "in order to put this difficult episode behind him and get back on the field as soon as possible." Tucker himself previously called the allegations "unequivocally false" and described the Banner’s reporting as "desperate tabloid fodder."
Conversely, attorneys representing many of the accusers welcomed the NFL’s decision. Michael Belsky, an attorney for several massage therapists, stated, "The NFL’s findings validate the experiences told by each of the victims. It would have been so simple for Mr. Tucker to just apologize many months ago. Instead, by attacking the credibility of the victims, he re-victimized them. This was not necessary and should not be acceptable." Some massage therapists also voiced their reactions to the suspension, with one telling The Baltimore Banner, "I don’t think it’s enough. He got 10 weeks, and we have to deal with this the rest of our lives." Another expressed relief that "something was done" but also called the punishment "the bare minimum," noting that she had to leave her career due to Tucker’s actions.
The suspension will become effective on August 26, 2025, which is the league’s 53-man roster cutdown day. Tucker is eligible for reinstatement on November 11, 2025. As a free agent, he is permitted to sign with an NFL team at any time and can attend training camp and participate in preseason games before his suspension begins.
Tucker’s release by the Ravens ended a remarkable 13-season tenure, making him the longest-tenured player on the team and the last remaining member from their Super Bowl XLVII championship roster in 2012. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest placekickers in NFL history, holding records for the longest field goal (66 yards) and the highest career field goal percentage (89.1%). A seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, Tucker had signed a four-year, $22 million contract extension in August 2022, making him the league’s highest-paid kicker at the time. However, his 2024 season was statistically the worst of his career, converting only 73.3% of his field goals (22 of 30), ranking 31st in the NFL, and missing 10 total kicks. Following the allegations and his performance, the Ravens drafted Arizona’s Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh had previously described the decision to cut Tucker as "complex" and "multi-layered," indicating that it was not a simple football decision. With the suspension now finalized, Tucker’s path back to an NFL roster remains uncertain, especially given his recent performance decline and the gravity of the off-field issues.
