NFL Kicker Justin Tucker Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations
According to the article, sixteen massage therapists have alleged improper sexual conduct by Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, their accounts detailed in a series of investigative stories by The Baltimore Banner.
According to the article, sixteen massage therapists have alleged improper sexual conduct by Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, their accounts detailed in a series of investigative stories by The Baltimore Banner.
After an initial story on January 30 and a follow up two days later, seven more women came forward in a Banner story published recently. Among the allegations are that, during sessions, Tucker intentionally exposed his genitals, and that he brushed some of the therapists’ thighs with his fingers. The alleged incidents all took place between 2012 and 2016.
“The matter remains under review of the personal conduct policy,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said via email Sunday.
Michael Belsky, a partner at the SBWD law firm in Baltimore, said in a phone conversation that his firm is representing “several” of the women who have shared accounts of alleged sexual misconduct by Tucker.
“We’re trying to put the pieces of this together through the chronology of events,” Belsky said. “Once we have that done, we’ll look at what legal rights our clients have.”
Tucker’s Social Media Response
Tucker, who has not been charged with a crime or been the subject of a civil lawsuit, posted a statement on X on January 30 denying the allegations, calling them “unequivocally false” and accusing The Banner of publishing “desperate tabloid fodder.”
The Ravens’ Response
The Ravens have not publicly addressed the situation beyond saying they will continue to monitor developments.
“We take any allegations of this nature seriously,” a Ravens spokesperson said via text message on January 30. The spokesperson said the team had no comment on the latest allegations.
This is where things stand as of now:
What Is Tucker Accused Of?
Massage therapists who spoke to The Banner allege instances of sexual misconduct that included Tucker exposing himself, brushing them with his penis, positioning his hands to contact them and leaving fluid that they believed to be ejaculate on massage tables.
According to The Banner’s reporting, Tucker’s conduct led to multiple businesses and individual massage therapists in the Baltimore area declining to work with him. In his statement, Tucker said he has never been told that he is unwelcome at a spa or “other place of business.”
That the accounts are from sessions that occurred nine or more years ago could create challenges with any potential legal action against Tucker. Generally, Maryland has a three-year statute of limitations for civil lawsuits.
“At this point, we’re just in the fact-gathering process and doing our own investigating into this matter,” Belsky said on Wednesday.
What Are the NFL’s Options?
Tucker does not need to be charged with a crime or sued in court for the NFL to take action under the personal conduct policy. Per the policy, players can be disciplined for assault and battery or other sex offenses, and for conduct that poses a threat to the safety and well-being of others.
“We first became aware of the allegations from the reporter investigating this story as they were not previously shared with the NFL,” McCarthy said via email on January 30. “We take any allegation seriously and will look into the matter.”
In his annual Super Bowl week news conference, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that he was “surprised” by the allegations.
“There’s a process for that, both civil and potentially criminal,” Goodell said. “We obviously have NFL investigations for that, too. We obviously look at that where we don’t want to interfere with the criminal side of that.
“We will look into those issues. They’re obviously serious issues and he’s taking that seriously, as well as we.”
The Deshaun Watson Case
In August 2022, the league suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson 11 games and fined him $5 million for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Watson was accused of sexual misconduct during massage therapy and bodywork sessions by more than 20 women.
Two Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal charges, and he reached confidential settlements with 23 of the 24 women who sued him in civil court (one case remains unresolved). The NFL’s decision to suspend Watson was based on the accounts of four women, each of whom participated in interviews with NFL investigators. The independent arbiter who heard the case did not take media reports into account.
Asked whether his clients would cooperate with the NFL’s investigation of Tucker, Belsky deferred the question to the league, saying he did not want to interfere with any NFL investigation.
The arbiter originally suspended Watson for six games. The NFL, seeking a more significant punishment, appealed that ruling and ultimately settled with the NFL Players Association before there was a ruling on that appeal. A year after the Watson decision, the league altered its personal conduct policy to consider “a pattern of conduct” and “offenses that involve planning” as potential reasons for increased disciplinary penalties.
What Are the Ravens’ Options?
The Ravens are letting the league’s investigation play out before deciding on Tucker’s status with the team.
Before the 2022 season, coach John Harbaugh was asked during a media availability about the NFL’s suspension of Watson.
“We’re kind of zero tolerance,” Harbaugh said. “You have to know the truth, you have to try to understand the circumstances, but we’ve stayed away from that particular situation — when we draft players, when we sign them as free agents.”
Tucker still has three years left on the contract extension he signed with the Ravens ahead of the 2022 season. If the Ravens were to cut him before June 1, they’d have $7.5 million of “dead money” on their 2025 salary cap. That’s why, if they are planning to move on in the coming weeks, they would likely designate Tucker as a post-June 1 cut, which would create $4.2 million of cap savings and spread out the dead money on their cap over the next two years.
If the Ravens opt to stay the course, they would likely bring in another kicker to protect themselves in the case of a Tucker suspension or release.
Tucker’s Career in Baltimore
The longest-tenured Raven, Tucker signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He is one of the most visible celebrities in Baltimore, particularly due to his appearance in commercials for Royal Farms convenience stores. Tucker and his wife, Amanda, were married in March 2015. They have an 8-year-old son.
In 13 seasons, Tucker has converted 89.1 percent of his field goal attempts, making him the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He’s a seven-time Pro Bowler and eight-time All-Pro. However, the 35-year-old is coming off the worst season of his career, missing a career-high eight field goals and two extra points in 2024.
At the team’s season-ending news conference, held before The Banner’s initial story published, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta and Harbaugh said they expected Tucker to be Baltimore’s kicker going forward. DeCosta said the team would discuss bringing in summer competition for Tucker, but added that it would not be a priority.
What’s next?
Belsky made clear that he’s still in the fact-gathering stage.
Tucker has hired Clare Locke LLP, a well-known firm that specializes in defamation issues and representing high-profile clients facing “reputational attacks.”
As for the Ravens, DeCosta and Harbaugh are scheduled to speak to reporters next week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Tucker’s status will undoubtedly come up.
Discussion Questions
1. Did the Cleveland Browns and the NFL act appropriately in the Deshaun Watson case? Why or why not?
This is an opinion question, so student responses may vary. In the Deshaun Watson case, the Cleveland Browns essentially deferred the disciplinary decision to the NFL, and as the article indicates, the league suspended Watson for 11 games and fined him $5 million for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Also, the NFL altered its personal conduct policy to consider “a pattern of conduct” and “offenses that involve planning” as potential reasons for increased disciplinary penalties.
In terms of whether the NFL acted appropriately, it is important to keep in mind that Watson was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women. Also, two Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal charges, and he reached confidential settlements with 23 of the 24 women who sued him in civil court (one case remains unresolved). The NFL’s decision to suspend Watson was based on the accounts of four women, each of whom participated in interviews with NFL investigators. The independent arbiter who heard the case did not take media reports into account.
In your author’s opinion, the NFL should have imposed greater penalties (including a financial penalty and the number of games suspended) on Deshaun Watson. Criminal conviction is not required to impose punishment for employee misconduct. And although settlement with the accusers is not a legal admission of fault or liability, the sheer number of accusers could lead a reasonable person to conclude that the allegations are well-founded in fact.
2. In your reasoned opinion, is termination of employment or other sanctions appropriate in the Justin Tucker case? Why or why not?
This is an opinion question, so student responses may vary. In your author’s opinion, as in the Deshaun Watson case, the sheer number of accusers (16 in the Justin Tucker case) could lead a reasonable person to conclude that the allegations are factual. The NFL should conduct a thorough investigation, and if the investigation confirms the allegations, impose severe sanctions (both financial and otherwise) on Tucker. The misconduct of its players, and how the NFL responds to the misconduct, shines light on the character of the league itself.
3. Based on the information presented in this article, evaluate the prospects of Justin Tucker’s potential defamation claims against the massage therapists.
This is essentially an opinion question, so student responses may vary. In your author’s opinion, Tucker’s defamation allegations against his accusers are not well-founded. Again, the sheer number of accusers (16 in the Justin Tucker case) lends credence to the allegations of each individual accuser. There is indeed power in numbers.
