Justin Tucker
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 at the University of Texas and was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Regarded as one of the greatest placekickers of all time, Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history at 90.2 percent and holds the record for the longest successful NFL field goal at 66 yards.[1][2][3][4][5] Tucker has also been named to seven Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pros, and was a member of the Ravens team that won Super Bowl XLVII.
Not to be confused with Justin Tuck.No. 9 – Baltimore Ravens
November 21, 1989
Houston, Texas, U.S.
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
188 lb (85 kg)
Texas (2008–2011)
Active
395
395
438
90.2
1,649
66
68
Early years[edit]
Tucker graduated from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. At Westlake, he was a teammate of future NFL quarterback Nick Foles, tight end Kyle Adams, and linebacker Bryce Hager.[2][6] Tucker played wide receiver, safety, and placekicker on the Westlake Chaparrals.[7] He also played soccer from age 3–4 up until his sophomore year.[8] Tucker played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[9]
College career[edit]
Tucker attended the University of Texas at Austin and played on the Longhorns football team.[10] In 2011, concluding a rivalry that saw Texas A&M University and the University of Texas square off 118 times over 117 years, he kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired. Texas, then ranked No. 25, won 27–25.[11] Even though Tucker finished his college football career with an 83.3% field-goal conversion percentage which was the third-best in the program's history, he was not invited to the East-West Shrine Game, Senior Bowl or the NFL Scouting Combine.[12]
Originally a communications major, Tucker switched to recording technology and studied under Nikita Storojev at the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music where he learned to sing operatically in English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Latin, and Russian.[13] Tucker graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in music a semester early in order to train for the NFL draft.[12][14][15]
Personal life[edit]
Tucker is a devout Catholic and makes the sign of the cross before every kick.[129][130][131]
Tucker is a classically trained bass-baritone who can sing opera in seven different languages.[132][133] He has been asked by both the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Opera Orchestra of New York for performances in the past, although he was unable to participate.[134] In 2015, Tucker was contracted by Royal Farms to sing for its line of commercials.[135] During the year, he sang "Ave Maria" for a Catholic Charities benefit concert with the Concert Artists of Baltimore.[134] Tucker's opera talents also led him 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".[136] As a result of his victory, Tucker received a ring and won $50,000 for his charity through the Baltimore School for the Arts.[137]
Tucker married his wife in March 2015.[138] They have a son.[139]