Chiefs coach defends decision to sign kicker Tucker

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has defended the team's decision to sign kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad. Tucker, an accomplished kicker known for his accuracy, was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists in the Baltimore area during the 2010s. Despite the allegations, Tucker denied them and never faced criminal charges.

After an investigation, he was suspended for 10 games by the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The Baltimore Ravens released Tucker in May 2025 due to declining form. After serving his suspension, Tucker is now available for selection by any NFL team, including the Chiefs.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Reid stated, "He's done his suspension, taking care of that business there. I'll leave it at that." He emphasized that the team conducted thorough due diligence and spoke with multiple sources before making the decision. When asked to elaborate on what he meant by "homework," Reid declined to provide further details.

The Chiefs added Tucker to their practice squad, and he is now a part of the team. Tucker, a five-time All-Pro with an impressive field-goal percentage of 89.1% across 13 seasons, had the worst season of his career in 2024, making only 73.3% of his field-goal attempts. The Chiefs selected him following the poor performance of their current kicker, Harrison Butker, who has the fifth-best accuracy in NFL history but missed five of his 16 field goals this season, including two from within three yards.