4 minSports
Craig Carton criticizes Chiefs for signing Justin Tucker to practice squad
OutKick host Craig Carton says the Kansas City Chiefs' decision to sign kicker Justin Tucker, who served a 10-game suspension over misconduct allegations, reflects a 'win at all costs' mindset.
Kansas City Chiefs host Craig Carton of OutKick has sharply criticized the team for signing kicker Justin Tucker to its practice squad, arguing the move shows a willingness to put winning ahead of character. The signing has drawn strong reactions on social media, with many questioning the decision to add a player who was suspended by the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy.
Tucker served a 10-game suspension after 24 women accused him of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior during massage sessions. He signed with the Chiefs amid kicking struggles with another field goal specialist, Harrison Butker. Carton said the decision forces a broader question about the franchise's priorities. "Is it really win at all costs? Is that really what Kansas City and the Hunt family should stand for?" he said. "Apparently, it is."
Carton said the Chiefs and their owners, the Hunt family, do not appear to care about the type of person who wears the Kansas City colors. "They just care about it doesn't matter how bad a guy that guy might be," he said. "Can he help me win a football game?" He argued that while other teams may make similar decisions, Kansas City is the worst at it, and he pointed to quarterback Patrick Mahomes as a player who represents the right conduct and should be celebrated, while asking the franchise, and coach Andy Reid specifically, what the cost of another championship should be.
The allegations against Tucker surfaced publicly in January 2025, when The Baltimore Banner reported that 16 female massage therapists had accused him of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior during sessions between 2012 and 2016 at eight spas in the Baltimore area. According to that report, some accusers ended sessions early or refused to work with him again. Five of the women said he was erect during sessions and that he fully or partially exposed himself. In February 2025, the same outlet reported that seven more women had come forward with similar claims, including at luxury spas in Baltimore. Tucker denied the accusations, saying he never acted inappropriately and that the claims were not true. He was never criminally charged or sued civilly over the allegations. The Baltimore Ravens released him in May 2025 after 13 seasons, describing it as a "football decision."
Carton's criticism also draws on the Chiefs' recent history with controversial players. Wide receiver Rashee Rice faced felony charges after a multi-vehicle crash in Dallas in March 2024 and served jail time this offseason after violating his probation. Running back Kareem Hunt was cut after surveillance video surfaced of a domestic dispute in a hotel hallway, served an eight-game suspension in 2019, and was re-signed in 2024, spending the last two seasons with Kansas City. Reid said at the time that Hunt had matured and deserved a second chance. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill also faced a 2014 domestic assault case that was dismissed and a 2019 child abuse probe in which no charges were filed.
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