John Hoyland joins Tyler Loop in the post-Justin Tucker era, causing a significant kicking shakeup for the Baltimore Ravens.

For over a decade, the Baltimore Ravens never had to worry about the kicker position. Justin Tucker wasn’t just a kicker — he was the kicker. A future Hall of Famer, the most accurate placekicker in NFL history, and the man responsible for countless clutch moments, Tucker became synonymous with excellence and stability.

But in 2025, the Ravens’ world has been rocked by what many fans are calling the beginning of the “post-Tucker” era. Following Tucker’s surprising retirement announcement earlier this offseason, the Ravens quickly pivoted to find his replacement — and now, they’ve landed on not one, but two highly touted kickers: John Hoyland and Tyler Loop. The result is a full-blown kicking competition and the most uncertainty Baltimore has faced at the position in years.

Before diving into the Hoyland-Loop dynamic, it’s worth appreciating the legacy that necessitated this scramble.

Justin Tucker retired after the 2024 season with an almost mythic résumé: a career field goal percentage of 90.3%, five All-Pro selections, and the record for the longest field goal in NFL history (66 yards). He was a reliable cornerstone on teams that fluctuated in talent, scheme, and leadership. No matter the circumstances, Ravens fans could always count on Tucker to deliver.

His departure created a void far deeper than just roster logistics — it altered the identity of the team’s special teams unit and left the coaching staff with an unusual level of vulnerability.

In April 2025, the Ravens announced the signing of John Hoyland, the former University of Wyoming standout who quietly built a strong résumé in the Mountain West Conference. While Hoyland didn’t come from a Power Five school, his consistency and leg strength caught the attention of scouts.

At Wyoming, Hoyland hit 85.1% of his field goals over four seasons and was known for booming kicks in adverse weather conditions, including the high winds of Laramie. He had a natural ball-striking ability and confidence that bordered on fearless — traits that endeared him to NFL evaluators looking for a possible Tucker heir.

During his pro day, Hoyland drilled five straight 55+ yard field goals and showcased a clean, compact motion. For a Ravens team that values poise in high-pressure moments, he checked several key boxes. Special teams coordinator Randy Brown praised his “emotional intelligence” and “cold-blooded mechanics.”

Just weeks after Hoyland was signed, the Ravens added another name to the mix — Tyler Loop, the former Arizona Wildcats kicker who also spent time in the SEC with Auburn. Loop may not have the booming leg Hoyland possesses, but he makes up for it with elite accuracy and calm nerves.

Loop was one of the most consistent kickers in college football over the past three seasons. In his senior year, he went 21-of-22 on field goals and was perfect on extra points. Scouts often noted that while his range was generally capped around 55 yards, he excelled in high-leverage scenarios and had a remarkably quick snap-to-kick release.

The Ravens clearly see value in having two contrasting kicking styles — Hoyland with the big leg and Loop with precision. But make no mistake, this is shaping up to be a fierce competition that could spill well into training camp.

The addition of both Hoyland and Loop marks a dramatic philosophical shift for the Ravens. For over a decade, they built their fourth-down and late-game strategies with the knowledge that Tucker would convert. He was their insurance policy, their safety net, and even a field-position equalizer.

Now, head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta must evaluate two unproven kickers, neither of whom has taken a regular-season NFL snap. It’s a shakeup that impacts not just special teams, but the entire game-management approach.

“This is a position that affects everything,” Harbaugh told reporters at rookie minicamp. “From when you decide to kick on 4th-and-3 to how you play the field position game. We’re evaluating everything — leg strength, mental toughness, kickoff depth, even locker room presence.”

It’s a total reimagining of how the Ravens approach close games. And with both Hoyland and Loop showing flashes of excellence in early OTA sessions, the coaching staff faces a tough — and urgent — decision.

One of the hidden challenges Hoyland and Loop face is the burden of replacing Justin Tucker. Whoever wins the starting job won’t just be kicking field goals — they’ll be stepping into one of the biggest legacies in modern NFL history.

That pressure can eat away at younger players, especially when fans expect perfection right away. The Ravens have already taken steps to support both players psychologically, bringing in sports performance specialists to help manage expectations and maintain focus.

“They’re not Justin Tucker,” Randy Brown emphasized. “We’re not asking them to be. We want them to be themselves — because that’s the only way they’ll succeed.”

Still, it’s hard to imagine a more intimidating position battle. Even in practice, fans watch with heightened scrutiny, and local media outlets have taken to tracking every made and missed kick.

As of now, both Hoyland and Loop are listed on the roster and expected to be full participants throughout the summer. The Ravens plan to alternate kicking reps during camp and preseason games, rotating game situations to simulate real pressure.

• Hoyland will likely get first crack at long-distance kicks, including 50+ yarders and end-of-half situations.
• Loop may be tested in red-zone kicking, pooch punts, and PAT consistency.

Special teams drills will also involve live snap-hold-kick situations with veteran holder Jordan Stout, who must adapt to two different rhythms and styles. Internal reports indicate that Stout has already developed timing chemistry with both kickers.

Another key factor? Kickoffs. While Hoyland has the leg to generate touchbacks with ease, Loop’s directional kicking could provide a tactical advantage in field position battles — something the Ravens have long excelled at under Harbaugh.

Privately, some Ravens veterans have acknowledged the surreal nature of seeing a kicking competition unfold after years of automatic confidence in Tucker. One team leader, speaking anonymously, said, “It’s weird. We’d go entire seasons never thinking twice about the kicker. Now it’s something we’re watching every day.”

Others, like linebacker Roquan Smith, have embraced the battle.

“It’s like any other position,” Smith said. “Iron sharpens iron. May the best man win. We’ve got two dogs going at it, and I love that energy.”

Smith’s comment reflects a growing sentiment in the locker room — that while the void left by Tucker is enormous, the team can still be elite at the position. It’ll just take time, reps, and composure under fire.

One unexpected wrinkle in all of this is the possibility that the Ravens could carry both Hoyland and Loop on the 53-man roster — something almost unheard of in today’s NFL.

Could Hoyland be used for long-distance kicks and kickoffs, while Loop handles short-yardage accuracy and PATs? Theoretically, yes. But doing so would require sacrificing depth elsewhere, likely at linebacker or defensive back, positions that have traditionally been loaded in Baltimore.

It’s a risky gamble, but if neither kicker clearly separates himself by the end of the preseason, it may be the safest option.

Ravens fans, long used to elite kicking play, are now navigating this new normal with a mix of unease and intrigue. Social media lit up after Hoyland’s signing, with fans digging up old college tape and comparing his mechanics to Tucker’s. When Loop joined, the debate only grew louder.

Polls on local radio shows and Reddit threads indicate a near 50/50 split among fans, with some favoring Hoyland’s power and others trusting Loop’s pinpoint style. It’s become one of the most discussed storylines of the offseason — which, for a position most teams ignore until Week 1, is telling.

Replacing a legend is never easy. For John Hoyland and Tyler Loop, the opportunity is both daunting and historic. They have a chance to follow in the footsteps of one of the greatest kickers in NFL history and become the next cornerstone of the Ravens’ franchise.

But only one can win the job. And in a league where games are decided by inches and milliseconds, the margin for error is razor-thin.

As the summer unfolds and preseason kicks begin to fly through the air at M&T Bank Stadium, one question will hang over every booted ball: