Jamison HensleyApr 2, 2026, 09:00 PM

CloseJamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.

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PHOENIX — The last time Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop attempted a field goal, his 44-yard attempt sailed wide right to abruptly end Baltimore’s regular season and give the AFC North title to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Three months since that 26-24 loss, it’s unknown whether Loop will have to battle for Baltimore’s kicking job. This week, Ravens coach Jesse Minter was noncommittal on whether the team will add competition at kicker.

“Truthfully, we’ll see how it goes,” Ravens coach Jesse Minter said at the NFL’s annual meeting. “I think you could certainly add another guy there to have another guy in training camp, but we just have a lot of confidence in him going forward.”

Loop, who was drafted in the sixth round last season, connected on 30 of his 34 field goal attempts. Loop’s 88.2% conversion rate ranked fourth among rookie kickers over the past five seasons, trailing Cameron Dicker (95.5%), Brandon Aubrey (94.7%) and Cam Little (93.1%).

But Loop didn’t come through in that regular-season finale in Pittsburgh, missing on his only game-winning attempt of the season. It also marked his only miss under 50 yards. He had made all 29 tries inside 50 yards before slicing the 44-yarder.

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“He had a great rookie year,” Minter said. “Obviously you’re judged by what happens, but we have a lot of confidence in him. He’s having a great offseason. He’s putting in a lot of time trying to improve.”

Last season, Loop faced the challenge of replacing Justin Tucker, who was the NFL’s most accurate kicker at that time. Baltimore released Tucker in May amid an investigation by the league for sexual misconduct. The Ravens parted ways with Tucker nine days after they selected Loop, who became the first kicker drafted in Ravens history.

The only competition that Loop faced last season was undrafted rookie John Hoyland, who was cut early in training camp. Loop went on to have the highest success rate on field goals by a Ravens kicker since Tucker made 94.6% of his field goals in 2021.

In the Ravens’ season-ending news conference in January, owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Eric DeCosta both gave votes of confidence to Loop after that critical miss.

Ravens place kicker Tyler Loop reacts after missing the potential winning field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

“I feel terrible for Tyler,” Bisciotti said. “He’s going to be a great kicker. He’s going to learn from this. [Kicker] is a terrible job; I mean, a terrible job in the NFL. It really is. You have to work twice as hard to earn people’s respect, and then they can hate you in a second. So, I think that kid’s resilient enough from what I’ve learned, and he’ll be our kicker next year.”

As Loop looks to bounce back, he will have a new holder. Jordan Stout left the Ravens in free agency when he signed a three-year, $12.3 million deal with the New York Giants and became the NFL’s highest-paid punter.

Loop will have continuity with the coaching staff. Baltimore brought back senior special teams coach Randy Brown, who has been the team’s longtime kicking coach.

“Tyler did a great job, came in [to fill] big shoes,” DeCosta said. “[It was] a lot of pressure. He had a great season.”