Justin Tucker suspension, explained: Why former Ravens kicker is facing lengthy ban for 2025 NFL season

The Ravens released longtime kicker Justin Tucker in May, but an NFL investigation into allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior remained open — and the league handed down its punishment on Thursday.

Tucker was suspended 10 games by the NFL, keeping him off the field well into November if any teams signs him. Tucker is not under contract at the moment, and there have not been reports indicating that any team was looking to sign him. 

Tucker's agent, Rob Roche, said in a statement Thursday that he and his client are "disappointed with the NFL's decision" and continued to deny the allegations. 

From Justin Tucker’s agent Rob Roche: “We are disappointed 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. In order to put this difficult episode behind him and get… https://t.co/adeIYxsGJC

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 26, 2025

Here's what you need to know about Tucker's suspension and the allegations he's faced since January.

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Justin Tucker suspension, explained

Tucker was suspended for the first 10 games of the NFL season as a result of a league investigation into allegations he engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior with or near massage therapists in the Baltimore area. 

Tucker faced allegations from 16 different therapists who worked for eight different spas in the Baltimore area, with a report from The Baltimore Banner first breaking the story on Jan. 30 and more allegations surfacing in the weeks that followed. 

The suspension covers the first 10 weeks of the NFL season even if Tucker remains a free agent. After the first 10 weeks, Tucker is eligible for reinstatement and would be able to sign with any team and play immediately. Tucker would be able to practice until roster cut-down day on Aug. 26, but he would have to be on a team. 

Whether that scenario is likely is very much a question. Tucker is the NFL's all-time most accurate kicker, but he's set to turn 36 in November and is coming off the worst statistical season of his career. The Ravens called their release of Tucker in May a football-related decision after they drafted Arizona's Tyler Loop in April. 

Tucker entered the NFL in 2012 and won a Super Bowl with the Ravens as a rookie before emerging as one of the most reliable kickers in league history.

MORE: Marlon Humphrey criticized for tweet about Justin Tucker

Justin Tucker allegations

Tucker was initially accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by six massage therapists in a Jan. 30 report by The Baltimore Banner. Ten more massage therapists later came forward with similar claims, bringing the total to 16 massage therapists from eight different spas in the Baltimore area.

Tucker, who has been married since 2015, is accused of exposing his genitals to massage therapists and making inappropriate sexual contact in some cases. All of the alleged incidents occurred between 2012 and 2016.

"Five of the women said Tucker asked them to massage his pelvic region or inner thighs while he had an erection," The Banner said in its initial report. "Then they said he repeatedly wiggled his pelvis to remove the sheets, which fully or partially exposed his genitals. Two women said Tucker brushed them with his exposed penis. Three said that when they returned to the treatment room after Tucker left, they discovered a large wet spot on the massage table, which they strongly believed to be ejaculate."

When seven more massage therapists came forward with allegations, the claims were strikingly similar. 

Tucker "intentionally and repeatedly exposed his genitals and brushed some of the therapists' thighs with his fingers," according to The Banner, which also reported Tucker "made intense eye contact" while exposing his genitals during one particular massage. 

Some of the therapists told The Banner that "Tucker’s behavior was so egregious that they ended his sessions early or refused to work on him again." Tucker was banned from two spas, The Banner reported, a claim Tucker and his lawyers strongly deny along with the rest of the allegations. 

Tucker's lawyers also provided a declaration from the owner of one of the spas involved, in which she says she never received or suspected any complaints about the Ravens kicker. The therapists from that spa told The Banner that they never reported Tucker's misconduct out of fear they would lose their jobs.