Justin Tucker

Justin Tucker

Tucker in January 2013
No. 9     Baltimore Ravens
Placekicker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1989-11-21) November 21, 1989
Place of birth: Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight: 181 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school: Austin (TX) Westlake
College: Texas
Undrafted in 2012
Debuted in 2012 for the Baltimore Ravens
Career history
Baltimore Ravens (2012–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2013) AP First Team All-Pro (2013) Super Bowl Champion (XLVII) AFC Champion (2012) 3x AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (2013) AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (Nov 2013) Lou Groza Award watchlist (2011)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2013
Field Goals Made 68 Field Goals Attempted 74 Field Goal % 91.9 Longest Field Goal 61 Stats at NFL.com

Justin Paul Tucker (born November 21, 1989) is an American football placekicker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football at the University of Texas. He graduated from Westlake High School, near Austin.^[1] On January 3, 2014, Tucker was named 1st team All-Pro. ^[2]

College career

Tucker played college football at the University of Texas. In 2011, concluding a 118 game rivalry with Texas A&M University and The University of Texas, Tucker kicked the game winning field goal as time expired. Texas (then ranked #25) won, 27-25.^[3] He played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

An undrafted free agent in the 2012 NFL Draft, Tucker was not selected by any of the 32 teams. However, the Baltimore Ravens signed him on May 29, 2012 to begin workouts and camp for the Ravens alongside placekicker Billy Cundiff.^[4] After impressive showings and accurate field goals during the team's preseason games, Tucker earned the starting job as the Ravens official placekicker upon Cundiff's release from his contract with Baltimore on August 26, 2012.^[5]

In his debut season, Tucker proved to be a very accurate kicker, making all 42 of his PAT attempts while missing only 3 out of his 35 Field Goals. During Week 3 against the New England Patriots, Tucker kicked a field goal with only 2 seconds left in the 4th quarter in which the ball was over the edge of the upright and the replacement officials called it good, giving the Ravens a 31-30 victory.

On January 12, 2013, during the divisional playoff round game against the Denver Broncos, Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal in double-overtime to win the game (later known as the Mile High Miracle) and sent the Ravens to the AFC championship for the second consecutive year.^[6] During the 2nd quarter of Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers, Tucker failed in converting the first fake field goal attempt in Super Bowl history, coming up just one yard short of the nine needed for the first down. Nonetheless, the Ravens went on to win the game, giving Tucker his first Super Bowl ring.

The following 2013 season, despite missing two field goals in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns, Tucker continued his success as an accurate kicker for the Ravens. He kicked the game winning field goal in overtime against the Cincinnati Bengals, letting the Ravens win 20-17. Tucker was then named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. On Thanksgiving, Tucker kicked five field goals en route to the Ravens 22-20 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was also selected as the player of the game along with Jacoby Jones by John Madden. He brought his holder, Sam Koch and long snapper, Morgan Cox, to accept the award on screen with him.

Tucker kicked a franchise record-tying six field goals that were the Ravens' only points in an 18-16 win against the Detroit Lions in a Monday Night Football game at Ford Field in Detroit on December 16, including a personal (and franchise) record 61-yard field goal in the last minute to seal the victory. During the game, Tucker became the first NFL kicker to kick a field goal in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s in the same game. Tucker's 61 yard field goal also set the NFL record for longest field goal in a domed stadium.^[7] Tucker was elected to his first Pro Bowl to end the 2013 season. He was also voted 1st team All-Pro by AP voters.^[8]

Ravens franchise records

• Most field goals in a single season - 38 (2013)
• Most points scored in a single season - 140 (2013)
• Most field goals in a Single Game - 6 vs. Detroit Lions (2013)
• Longest field goal - 61 yards vs. Detroit Lions (2013)

NFL records

• Longest field goal in a domed stadium - 61 yards vs. Detroit Lions (2013)
• First NFL kicker to kick a field goal in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s in the same game

Personal

Tucker is a practicing Roman Catholic and makes the sign of the cross before every kick.^[9][10] He is currently engaged to girlfriend Amanda.^[11]

References

External links

• Baltimore Ravens bio
• Texas Longhorns bio