Justin Tucker’s Shocking NFL Comeback: Ex-Ravens Kicker Trying Out for Saints After Suspension

NEW ORLEANS—All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker, the NFL’s career leader in field-goal accuracy, is officially back on the league’s radar. League sources confirm that the New Orleans Saints hosted the 36-year-old for a workout Monday as they search for stability in a season marred by missed kicks and narrow losses. Tucker has been eligible to sign since November 11, the date his 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy expired. The Baltimore Ravens released him in May amid the league investigation, but multiple front-office executives told reporters that the five-time First-Team All-Pro would “get another shot the minute he’s cleared.” That moment appears to have arrived, with New Orleans emerging as the first serious suitor. The Saints’ kicking carousel has spun all autumn; three different specialists have combined to go 14-of-22 on field goals and 23-of-27 on extra points. With the club clinging to NFC South playoff hopes, head coach Dennis Allen emphasized that “every point matters” after Sunday’s 23-21 defeat, the team’s third one-score loss since Week 5. Tucker’s career 90.3 percent conversion rate, coupled with his reputation for game-winning range beyond 60 yards, makes him an immediate upgrade if workouts translate to a contract. Tucker, who owns a Super Bowl ring (XLVII) and the NFL record for longest field goal (66 yards), stayed in game shape at his Austin, Texas, home during the suspension. A league source said his audition included kicks from 33, 45, 52 and 58 yards in windy conditions inside the Saints’ indoor facility; Tucker reportedly missed only once, a 58-yarder wide left that was retaken and drilled. While other teams—the Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs—have also inquired, New Orleans offers the clearest path to immediate playing time. The Saints can sign Tucker without clearing waivers because he is a vested veteran; contract details would likely mirror his previous $6 million-per-year average but may include conduct clauses and minimal guaranteed money. If an agreement is finalized this week, Tucker could debut Sunday night against the division-leading Atlanta Falcons, setting up a high-stakes return spotlighted on national television. For a franchise desperate for clutch kicking and a star determined to rewrite the final chapter of his storied career, the timing could not be better.