Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is getting another opportunity in the NFL, and his return will come with one of Baltimore's biggest AFC rivals. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and The Kansas City Star's Sam McDowell, the Kansas City Chiefs are signing Tucker to their practice squad, giving the seven-time Pro Bowl selection his first NFL opportunity since the Ravens released him in May 2025.

The move comes as Kansas City looks to add depth and competition at kicker, with veteran Harrison Butker remaining on the Chiefs' 53-man roster. Butker has struggled with consistency this season, making 11 of 16 field-goal attempts through seven games, including only one of three attempts in Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. HEAVY+2

Tucker, 36, hasn't appeared in an NFL regular-season game since the end of the 2024 season, ending a 13-year run in Baltimore that made him one of the league's most accomplished kickers.

His departure from the Ravens followed allegations of sexual misconduct involving 16 massage therapists at Baltimore-area spas. Tucker has repeatedly denied the allegations, but the NFL suspended him for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season after determining he violated the league's personal conduct policy.

The league announced the suspension on June 26, 2025, and Tucker became eligible for reinstatement that November. He remained unsigned throughout the season, ending his lengthy tenure as one of the NFL's most recognizable specialists. NFL+1

Baltimore released Tucker on May 5, 2025, shortly after selecting Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round of the NFL draft. General manager Eric DeCosta described the decision as a difficult football move, ending Tucker's tenure after 13 seasons, seven Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro honors.

Tucker finished his Ravens career by converting 417 of 468 field-goal attempts, an 89.1% success rate that made him the most accurate kicker in NFL history at the time of his release. He also holds the league record for the longest successful field goal, connecting from 66 yards against the Detroit Lions in 2021.

However, his final season in Baltimore raised questions about whether he could maintain that level of production. Tucker made just 22 of 30 field-goal attempts in 2024, converting a career-low 73.3% of his opportunities and missing eight field goals. Baltimore Ravens+1

The Chiefs' decision to add Tucker doesn't immediately signal a change at kicker, but it creates competition for Butker as Kansas City attempts to improve its special teams production. Butker has been one of the NFL's most accomplished kickers during his tenure with Kansas City, helping the franchise win three Super Bowls. His struggles this season have given the Chiefs an opportunity to evaluate another proven veteran without immediately changing their active roster.

For Tucker, the signing offers a chance to reestablish his career after more than a year away from regular-season competition. Although he remains one of the most accomplished kickers in NFL history, questions surrounding his recent performance and extended absence will follow him as he attempts to earn a roster spot.

The former Ravens standout previously worked out for the New York Jets in September before Kansas City became the first team to sign him since he left Baltimore. The development also adds an interesting element to the AFC landscape, with Tucker joining a franchise that has regularly competed with Baltimore for postseason positioning.

It remains uncertain whether Tucker will eventually replace Butker or simply provide insurance, but his signing gives the former Ravens star another chance to kick in the NFL after his lengthy absence.

For Baltimore, it marks another chapter in the career of a player who spent more than a decade as one of the franchise's most reliable performers before his controversial departure.