The New Orleans Saints are exploring a potential solution to their long-standing special teams questions from a source few could have predicted just a few seasons ago. According to a report from AOL.com, the Saints have extended a tryout opportunity to Justin Tucker, the former Baltimore Ravens kicker whose career was derailed by off-field allegations.
The news, if it leads to a contract, would mark one of the more dramatic NFL comebacks in recent memory. Tucker, once considered the gold standard at his position and a future Hall of Fame lock, was released by the Ravens prior to the 2025 season following serious allegations of misconduct. His absence from the league for the entirety of last season left many to believe his professional career was over. This tryout with the Saints represents his first publicly known step toward a return.
A Legacy in Limbo
To understand the magnitude of this development, one must first recall the player Justin Tucker was. For over a decade with the Baltimore Ravens, he wasn't just a kicker; he was a weapon. His career field goal percentage hovered among the best in NFL history. He was a six-time First-Team All-Pro, a seven-time Pro Bowler, and a Super Bowl champion. His leg decided countless games, including a record-setting 66-yard game-winner that seemed to defy physics. He was the model of robotic consistency and clutch performance, the player young kickers studied.
That all came crashing down in the 2025 offseason. The Ravens, an organization known for its stability and loyalty, made the stunning decision to release Tucker amid what were described as significant allegations of misconduct. The details, while never fully disclosed by the team, were severe enough to prompt immediate action from a franchise that had built its identity alongside him. Overnight, Tucker went from a revered specialist to a pariah, his legacy shrouded in controversy and his future in the sport in serious doubt.
No team touched him during the 2025 season. The silence was deafening. In a league always hungry for talent, especially at a premium position like kicker, Tucker's phone didn't ring. It was a clear signal that the allegations carried substantial weight and that the risk of bringing him into a locker room was deemed too great by all 32 teams.
Why the Saints? Why Now?
The Saints' interest, therefore, is fascinating and speaks to a specific, pressing need. New Orleans has experienced a carousel of inconsistency at the kicker position since the reliable Wil Lutz era ended. The team has cycled through veterans and rookies, searching for a player who can provide stability in a role that often decides close games--a hallmark of the competitive NFC South.
Blake Grupe, who handled duties for most of the last two seasons, showed flashes but also struggled with critical misses, particularly from longer range. The team brought in competition last offseason, but a definitive, long-term answer never emerged. The position remains a question mark as the team builds its 2026 roster.
Enter Mickey Loomis and the Saints' front office, never afraid to make a bold move. The potential upside is enormous. If Tucker, now 36, has maintained his physical skills and, more importantly, has addressed the personal issues that led to his exile, he could instantly become the best kicker in the NFC South. He would solve a problem that has plagued the team for years with a single stroke of a pen. The talent, at his peak, was transcendent.
But the risk is equally massive. The Saints, under head coach Dennis Allen, have worked diligently to cultivate a specific culture--one of accountability and professionalism. Introducing a player with Tucker's recent baggage is a gamble. It would require extensive vetting, likely including direct conversations with former Ravens teammates and officials, and a level of comfort that the issues are firmly in the past. A tryout is a low-risk first step, but signing him would be a major statement.
What a Tryout Entails
An NFL tryout, especially for a veteran of Tucker's pedigree, is about far more than just kicking footballs. The Saints will certainly put him through a rigorous physical workout. They'll want to see the leg strength, the accuracy from all distances and hash marks, and the consistency on kickoffs. Has a year away from the game diminished his skills? Has he stayed in "kicking shape"?
More critically, this tryout will be an interview. Team officials, including Allen, Loomis, and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi, will want to sit down with Tucker. They will need to hear his account of the past two years, his perspective on what happened in Baltimore, and the steps he has taken since. They will gauge his attitude, his humility, and his commitment to being a positive contributor in the locker room. The Saints are not just evaluating a leg; they are evaluating a person.
For Tucker, this is his audition for the rest of the league. A strong performance--both on the field and in the room--could not only earn him a contract with New Orleans but could also signal to other teams that he is a viable option again. A poor showing, or any red flags in the interview process, could effectively end his comeback attempt before it truly begins.
The Road Ahead
It is crucial to emphasize that this is a reported tryout, not a signing. The Saints are doing their due diligence on a high-risk, high-reward player. They are under no obligation to offer him a contract. The team could easily walk away from the tryout unconvinced and continue its search elsewhere, perhaps in the draft or among other free agents.
However, the mere fact that Tucker is getting a look tells us two things. First, Tucker is actively seeking a return and has presumably been working out in preparation for such an opportunity. Second, at least one NFL team believes the potential reward is worth the initial investigation.
For Saints fans, this news stirs a complex mix of emotions. The prospect of adding a historically great kicker is tantalizing. Imagine no longer holding your breath on a 48-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. But the shadow of the allegations that ended his time in Baltimore is long and dark. The team's decision, should it progress beyond a tryout, will be heavily scrutinized.
The Saints' special teams search has taken a sudden, dramatic turn. Whether Justin Tucker's story in New Orleans ends with a few kicks in a private tryout or with game-winners in the Superdome remains to be seen. But for the first time in over a year, his name is back in the NFL conversation, and it's the Black and Gold who are listening.