Justin Paul Tucker (born November 21, 1989) is an American football placekicker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas. He was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. As of 2017, he has the highest field goal accuracy of any kicker in NFL history.
Video Justin Tucker
Early years
Tucker graduated from Westlake High School, in Austin, Texas, where he was teammates with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles.
Maps Justin Tucker
College career
Tucker played for the Texas Longhorns football team while attending the University of Texas. In 2011, concluding a 118-game rivalry between Texas A&M University and the University of Texas, he kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. Texas (then ranked No. 25) won, 27-25. He played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. While attending the University of Texas, Tucker majored in Music; his degree path was in Recording Technologies.
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. 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.
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 game-winning field goal with 2 seconds left, giving the Ravens a 31-30 victory and their first ever regular season victory over the Patriots. 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.
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. He was 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.
In 2013, 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 kicker in NFL history 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. Tucker was elected to his first Pro Bowl to end the 2013 season. He was also voted 1st team All-Pro by AP voters.
On February 26, 2016, the Ravens placed the franchise tag on Tucker. Tucker signed the franchise tender on March 4, 2016, which would pay him $4.5 million. Tucker signed a four-year, $16.8 million extension on July 15, 2016.
In Week 12 of the 2016 season against the Bengals, Tucker kicked four field goals, three for over 50 yards in a 19-14 win, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In Week 15 against the Eagles, Tucker tied the NFL single-season record for 10 field goals of more than 50 yards. He was named to his second Pro Bowl, his first since 2013, as a result of his successful 2016 season and was named First-team All-Pro for the second time in his career.
Ravens franchise records
- Most field goals in a single season - 38 (2013, 2016)
- Most points scored in a single season - 141 (2016)
- Most field goals in a single game - 6 vs. Detroit Lions (2013)
- Longest field goal - 61 yards vs. Detroit Lions (2013)
NFL records
- Most accurate kicker in NFL History (min. 100 attempts)
- 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
- First NFL kicker to kick three 50+ yard field goals in one half (2016)
- Most 50+ yard field goals in one game - 3 (2016) (tied)
- Most 50+ yard field goals in one season - 10 (2016) (tied)
Career statistics
- Regular season
Personal life
Tucker is a devout Catholic and makes the sign of the cross before every kick. Tucker is also a classically trained bass-baritone, and in the past has been asked by both the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and New York Opera for performances, although was unable to comply. In 2015, Tucker was contracted by Royal Farms to sing in their line of commercials. Even more recently, Tucker sang "Ave Maria" for a Catholic Charities benefit concert with the Concert Artists of Baltimore. His opera talents also led Tucker through to the finals of the Most Valuable Performer, a talent show featuring talent performances of NFL players, where he won thanks to his rendition of Ave Maria. As a result of his victory, he received a ring and won $50,000 for his charity through the Baltimore School for the Arts.
Tucker married Amanda Bass in March 2015, after meeting in college and dating for 6 years. Their first child, Easton, was born on May 10, 2016.
References
External links
- Baltimore Ravens bio
- Texas Longhorns bio
- Justin Tucker on Twitter
Source of article : Wikipedia
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