Tyler Loop’s rookie season ended with the weight of a franchise on his right leg and a kick that sailed wide right. Two hundred and sixty-six days later, he stood in the Rio de Janeiro heat, 56 yards from redemption, and drilled the kick that changed everything.
That’s the story of the Baltimore Ravens’ second-year kicker, a Texas native who replaced a legend, endured a nightmare, and just authored one of the most dramatic game-winners in recent NFL memory.
Who Is Tyler Loop?
Tyler Loop was born on August 4, 2001, in Lucas, Texas, and attended Lovejoy High School before committing to the University of Arizona. Standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 191 pounds, he was selected by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 186th overall pick, making him the first kicker ever drafted by Baltimore in franchise history.
Loop wears No. 33 for the Ravens and is currently in his second NFL season.
From Soccer Fields to Football Stardom
Loop’s path to the NFL didn’t start on a gridiron. Growing up outside Dallas, his first love was soccer, and he dreamed of playing in the Premier League. But his leg was special. His father, Steve, remembered taking Tyler to a local football field just to see what he could do.
“He was kicking 55-yard field goals in the seventh grade,” Steve said.
That moment sparked a pivot. Loop balanced kicking for Lovejoy High School while starring on the soccer team, but eventually made a decision that changed his trajectory. As he told his father: “You may have 1,000 people show up to a Division I soccer game. You get 100,000 people to show up to a Division I football game. I’m doing that.”
Arizona: Where the Record Books Were Rewritten
Loop spent five seasons at Arizona, beginning his career as a punter in 2020 before transitioning to placekicking in 2021. What followed was one of the most accurate kicking careers in program history.
He finished his collegiate career with a program-record 83.75% field goal percentage, connecting on 67 of 80 attempts. He also made 126 of 128 extra points (98.4%).
His signature moment came on November 15, 2024, when he drilled a 62-yard field goal against Houston, the longest in Arizona history. That season, he was 6-for-9 on kicks of 50 yards or more and earned Lou Groza Award semifinalist honors.
Rookie Season: Promise, Pain, and a Miss That Lingered
Loop won the Ravens’ starting kicker job in 2025 after Baltimore released longtime veteran Justin Tucker. His rookie regular season was remarkably consistent: he made 30 of 34 field goals (88.2%) and 44 of 46 extra points, finishing with 134 points.
But his season ended in agony. In Week 18 against Pittsburgh, with the Ravens’ playoff hopes on the line, Loop pushed a 44-yard game-winning attempt wide right. Baltimore lost 26-24, missed the postseason, and head coach John Harbaugh was fired the next day.
The miss haunted the offseason. The Ravens brought in insurance competition during the preseason, and Loop responded by reflecting on his approach.
“It’s been a lot of reflection on my side from a spiritual standpoint,” Loop said. “Football is a gift. It’s meant to be enjoyed.”
Redemption in Rio: The 56-Yard Legacy Kick
On September 27, 2026, in the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil, Loop got his chance.
Lamar Jackson drove the Ravens into position, hitting Zay Flowers for 27 yards and calling timeout with one second left. Loop stepped up from 56 yards out and split the uprights as time expired, giving Baltimore a 34-31 win over Dallas.
He sprinted downfield, pulled off Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic “Siuuu” celebration, and was carried off the field on his teammates’ shoulders.
“I had no doubt in my mind,” Jackson said afterward. “I was standing on the sideline like, ‘Your legacy starts now.’”
Tyler Loop’s Career Stats at a Glance
2025 Regular Season (Ravens): 17 games, 30-of-34 field goals (88.2%), 44-of-46 extra points, 134 points.
2026 Season (Through Week 3): 5-of-6 field goals, 7-of-7 extra points, including the 56-yard game-winner in Rio.
College Career (Arizona): 67-of-80 field goals (83.75%, program record), 126-of-128 extra points, long of 62 yards.
What’s Next for Loop
The miss in Pittsburgh will always be part of his story. But so will the kick in Rio. For a 25-year-old kicker who once dreamed of Premier League glory, the NFL stage is now his, and the Ravens believe the best is still ahead.
As teammate Kyle Hamilton put it after the Brazil game: “First of many.”
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