Chiefs Hire Eight-Time All-Pro Justin Tucker to Bolster Kicking Depth

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Justin Tucker to their practice squad.

The team moved quickly after Harrison Butker continued to struggle with long kicks this season. Tucker, a former Baltimore Ravens player and eight-time All-Pro, joins the roster to provide depth behind Butker. The Kansas City Star first reported the signing, which was confirmed by CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz.

Tucker last played in a game on January 19, 2025. He holds several NFL records, including the fastest path to 300 career field goals and 1,000 career points. His 66-yard field goal stood as the league record until Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little surpassed it with a 67-yarder and a 68-yarder. The 36-year-old has converted 89.1 percent of his career attempts and ranks 14th in history with 417 made field goals.

The Chiefs held workouts for three kickers this week before selecting Tucker. They passed on Harrison Mevis, a former Los Angeles Rams kicker. Tucker was released by Baltimore in May 2025 after a suspension. The NFL suspended him for the first 10 games of the 2025 season for violating its personal conduct policy. He subsequently went unsigned despite working out with the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets.

The decision to sign Tucker comes amid scrutiny of Tucker's off-field conduct. In January 2025, The Baltimore Banner reported that six women accused him of sexually inappropriate misconduct at Baltimore-area spas. The number of accusers later rose to 16 across eight spas. The allegations included Tucker exposing his erect genitals during sessions and touching therapists inappropriately.

Butker has missed six kicks this season, including one extra point. In the Chiefs' 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7, he missed a 58-yard field goal at the end of the first half and a 45-yarder in the fourth quarter. Head coach Andy Reid noted that Butker is usually one of the most consistent kickers in football but is currently off his game. Butker remains 9-of-10 from inside 50 yards, but his long-range inconsistency has cost Kansas City points.

Butker remains the Chiefs' primary kicker for now. However, the addition of Tucker to the practice squad signals that the team is prepared to make changes if Butker's form does not improve.