Chiefs Sign Kicker Justin Tucker to Practice Squad Amid Butker's Struggles

The Kansas City Chiefs added veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad on Wednesday.

Tucker, a five-time All-Pro, receives a second opportunity in the league following a 10-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy. The move places him directly in competition with Harrison Butker, the team's current starter.

Tucker spent 13 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, where he earned a reputation as one of the NFL's top kickers. His time in Baltimore ended in 2025 after the Baltimore Banner reported that 16 massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct at high-end spas. Tucker described the claims as "unequivocally false" and "tabloid fodder." The Ravens released him in May 2025, and the NFL suspended him for the first 10 games of that season, which he served as a free agent. He became eligible for reinstatement in November 2025.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the hiring decision on Wednesday, noting that Tucker completed his suspension. "He's done his suspension, you know? Took care of that business," Reid said, "and I'll leave it at that." The signing creates immediate depth for a position where Butker has faced criticism for inconsistent performance.

Butker has struggled over the past two seasons. He missed two kicks in Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Denver. Since the start of the 2025 season, Butker has missed 10 field-goal attempts and five extra-point attempts, the highest total in the league. These missed opportunities come at a financial cost, as Butker is the third-highest paid kicker in the NFL and holds the sixth-highest base salary on the Chiefs roster.

Reid acknowledged the challenges while affirming his support for Butker. "Listen, Harrison, we love. I've told you that before. He's one of my favorite guys," Reid said. He added that sometimes things do not go as planned and that Butker understands the business. "He's struggling a little bit and he gets it," Reid stated. Butker is scheduled to kick for the Chiefs in their upcoming game in Denver.

The Chiefs have a history of giving players a second chance after off-field controversies. Last year, the team brought back running back Kareem Hunt, who had been released after security footage showed him kicking a woman in a hotel hallway. They also signed punter Matt Araiza, who faced allegations of rape at San Diego State University. Araiza claimed the encounters were consensual, and a district attorney declined to file criminal charges. He later filed a defamation suit, and pending cases were dropped without either side admitting wrongdoing.

Reid explained his evaluation process for such signings. "I try to do homework on it. See exactly what's taken place," he said. "(Tucker) served his suspension. Spent time involved in it. That's how I evaluate it." Tucker, who turns 37 next month, had also struggled before his release, missing 10 kicks during the 2024 season, the most in his career.

Tucker has had minor interactions with new teammates in the past. Two years ago, before the AFC championship game in Baltimore, a dispute arose over pregame warm-up space involving quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. Kelce kicked Tucker's footballs and helmet away, leading to an exchange of words. The Chiefs won that game 17-10 and subsequently won their second consecutive Super Bowl against San Francisco. Mahomes said Wednesday that the incident did not create a lasting rivalry. "At the end of the day, we're just playing a game," Mahomes said. "You want to compete and you want to win. But it's not like we had a longstanding beef that carries on. We won that game."

Butker has also faced scrutiny for political statements made during his tenure in Kansas City. Several years ago, he delivered a commencement address at Benedictine College where he suggested that many female graduates were more excited about marriage and children than professional careers. He later formed a political action committee for the 2024 election to encourage Christians to vote for traditional values. The Chiefs will evaluate Tucker's performance on the practice squad before deciding if he moves to the active roster.