The NFL will investigate allegations that Justin Tucker, the kicker for the Baltimore Ravens, acted inappropriately toward massage therapists at four spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area, according to a league spokesperson.
The Baltimore Banner published a detailed report on Thursday, where it spoke to six massage therapists who shared their experiences with Tucker from 2012 to 2016. Some therapists said they ended sessions early or refused to work with him again, and two spa managers said they banned him from returning.
“We first became aware of the allegations from the reporter investigating this story as they were not previously shared with the NFL,” said league spokesman Brian McCarthy. “We take any allegation seriously and will look into the matter.”
The accusations involve Tucker allegedly exposing himself, brushing two therapists with his exposed genitals, and leaving what they believed to be semen on the massage table after three treatments.
Tucker responded on social media, calling the allegations “unequivocally false” and stated that the article misrepresented his interactions, turning them into something they were not and presenting vague insinuations as fact.
Tucker, 35, recently completed his 13th season in the NFL, all with the Ravens. He has become a star both in the league and among Baltimore fans, especially after setting a record with a 66-yard field goal in 2021, which remains the longest successful kick in NFL history.
In 2022, Tucker signed a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2027 season, with $17.5 million guaranteed.
“We are aware of the Baltimore Banner’s story regarding Justin Tucker as well as his response,” a Ravens spokesperson said. “We take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.”
The Banner’s report states that Tucker was terminated as a client by the Ojas spa chain in 2014 after a massage therapist reported an incident with him during a session. The owners of Studio 921, a now-closed spa, said they took immediate action to ban him from their business to ensure safety.
Tucker denied the allegations, saying he had never received complaints from a massage therapist, been dismissed from a session, or been told he was unwelcome at any spa or business.
The allegations share some similarities with accusations made against quarterback Deshaun Watson, who faced accusations of sexual assault and harassment from more than two dozen women during massage therapy sessions while he played for Houston. Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season after an independent arbitrator determined he violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
