Baltimore, MD — June 12, 2025
The post-Justin Tucker era in Baltimore was never going to be easy. Replacing arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history was always going to come with pressure, scrutiny, and an unforgiving spotlight. But for rookie kicker Tyler Loop, the challenge is proving more daunting than expected — and early signs from mandatory minicamp suggest the Ravens may already have a problem on their hands.
Loop, the undrafted kicker out of Arizona, was brought in to compete for the job after the legendary Tucker was released in a shocking offseason move. While the front office praised Loop’s leg strength and college consistency, his recent performances have raised more questions than answers.
According to Sporting News, Loop has struggled with accuracy during open practices, missing multiple kicks during team drills, including several from inside 40 yards — the kind of routine kicks Tucker turned into near-automatic points for over a decade.
“This isn’t about having a big leg,” one team observer noted. “It’s about consistency, nerves, and trust — and right now, Loop doesn’t have any of those locked in.”
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh offered a diplomatic take when asked about Loop’s rocky start: “It’s early. We’re evaluating everything. But of course, when you’re following someone like Justin, every miss is magnified.”
Harbaugh’s comments echo the tension building among fans, who’ve grown accustomed to a level of reliability that’s hard to replace. The Ravens are a team built around defense, field position, and clutch execution — and an unstable kicking game threatens one of the franchise’s quiet strengths.
What makes matters worse is that Loop isn’t just missing kicks — he’s reportedly inconsistent on kickoffs as well. That creates a dual concern about both field goals and special teams coverage, which the Ravens have historically excelled at under special teams coordinator Chris Horton.
“It’s not panic time yet,” another source within the team said. “But let’s just say we’re watching this closely.”
The team has not ruled out bringing in veteran competition before training camp, and with several experienced kickers still unsigned, Baltimore may not wait long if Loop doesn’t steady the ship.
Replacing a legend was always going to be a thankless task. But if Tyler Loop can’t flip the narrative soon, the Ravens may be forced to admit they jumped the gun in turning the page on the Tucker era.
One thing is clear — the kicker spotlight in Baltimore hasn’t dimmed. If anything, it’s burning hotter than ever.
