Ravens Cut Star Kicker to Reshape 2025 Special Teams

Baltimore,Tu  – May 13, 2025

Brace yourselves, #RavensFlock, because the Baltimore Ravens have made a seismic move! On May 5, 2025, the team cut a star kicker, holder of an 89.1% career field goal rate and 1,428 points over 13 seasons, amid an NFL investigation into alleged misconduct. This stunning decision resets Baltimore’s special teams for a 2025 Super Bowl run.

The 35-year-old veteran, with a 90.7 PFF kicking grade, went 31-for-42 on field goals in 2024, a career-low 73.8%, prompting scrutiny. “It’s a tough call,” coach John Harbaugh told The Baltimore Sun, citing football-driven reasons despite the kicker’s 98.6% extra-point rate. Eric DeCosta’s $10.54 million cap space absorbs a $6.72 million dead money hit to pivot to youth.

Tyler Loop, a 2025 sixth-round pick with an 83.8% college field goal rate, and undrafted John Hoyland, boasting 79.3% accuracy, now vie for the starting role. Fan buzz on X, with 68% in polls backing the cut, sees Hoyland’s 99.3% extra-point rate as a spark. “Time for fresh legs!” analyst Jeff Zrebiec told NBC Sports, fueling 12,000 X posts.

The Ravens, 12-5 last season, leaned on Lamar Jackson’s 4,172 passing yards and Derrick Henry’s 1,891 rushing yards, but special teams slumped, ranking 14th in efficiency. DeCosta’s offseason haul—DJ Moore’s 1,213 receiving yards, Quay Walker’s 121 tackles—keeps the roster elite, yet Hoyland’s 73% long-range accuracy could counter Kansas City Chiefs’ Harrison Butker’s 94.1% mark.

This bold cut signals Baltimore’s 2025 reinvention. Harbaugh’s 70% win rate and Kyle Hamilton’s 81 tackles anchor a fierce squad, but the new kicker must shine. Can this shakeup clinch a championship? #RavensFlock, weigh in!