{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}} {{for|the English cricketer|Josh Baker (cricketer)}} {{Use American English|date=October 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Josh Baker | image = Josh Baker.JPG | caption = Baker with the Jets in 2011 | current_team = | number = 45 | position = Tight end | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|12|25|mf=y}} | birth_place = Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 244 | high_school = Western Branch (Chesapeake) | college = Northwest Missouri State | undraftedyear = 2011 | pastteams = * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2012}}) * Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2014}})* | status = | statweek = | statseason = | statlabel1 = Receptions | statvalue1 = 3 | statlabel2 = Receiving yards | statvalue2 = 27 | statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue3 = 1 | pfr = B/BakeJo01 }}
'''Joshua Stevenson Baker''' (born December 25, 1986<ref name="NWM">{{cite web |title=Josh Baker |url=http://www.bluehens.com/sportsinfo/football/roster09-baker.html |publisher=Northwest Missouri State University Athletics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323155703/http://www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/football/2010/players/baker_josh.htm |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |access-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens and Northwest Missouri Bearcats. He played high school football at Western Branch High School.
==College career== Baker began his college career at the University of Delaware in 2005. Although among the team's top scout team players, Baker did not participate in a formal match-up that year.<ref name="UDel">{{cite web |title=Josh Baker |url=http://www.bluehens.com/sportsinfo/football/roster09-baker.html |publisher=University of Delaware Athletics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327110905/http://www.bluehens.com/sportsinfo/football/roster09-baker.html |archive-date=March 27, 2012 |access-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2006, he was named the Blue Hens' third string tight end appearing in ten games in a back-up role primarily on running plays and special teams. Baker recorded one catch for no yards and had a 14-yard kickoff return.<ref name="UDel"/> In 2007, Baker was named the second string tight end and ranked sixth on the team in receiving, totaling 20 catches for 344 yards and 2 touchdowns.<ref name="UDel"/> In 2008, Baker was suspended from the team for a year after violating the school's three strike policy which included incidents such as underage drinking and having a lit candle in his dorm room.<ref name="Metro">{{cite news |title=Josh Baker's 'long, crazy journey' to Jets |url=http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1145679--josh-baker-s-long-crazy-journey-to-jets |work=Metro New York |author=Dyer, Kristian |date=June 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407131835/http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1145679--josh-baker-s-long-crazy-journey-to-jets |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |access-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Baker went to live with his father in Waco, Texas, where he attended Collin County Community College and worked at an OfficeMax earning $9.00 an hour, which went toward his community college fees.<ref name="Metro"/> He also worked with a professional trainer to stay in shape.<ref name="Cimini">{{cite web|title=Long shots: Undrafted and undeterred |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/6899483/new-york-jets-undrafted-rookies-try-beat-odds-make-roster |publisher=ESPN New York |author=Cimini, Rich |date=August 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204132926/http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/6899483/new-york-jets-undrafted-rookies-try-beat-odds-make-roster |archive-date= December 4, 2011 |access-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Delaware retained Baker's athletic scholarship and he returned for his redshirt senior season in 2009.<ref name="Metro"/> Baker tore multiple knee ligaments in the first quarter of the Blue Hens' first game of the year, ending his season.<ref name="Cimini"/>
Baker was denied a medical redshirt and transferred to Division II Northwest Missouri State University.<ref name="Cimini"/> Baker had 66 catches for 838 yards and a touchdown, and 3 rushing touchdowns for Missouri in 2010 and was named to the Associated Press' Little All-America Team.<ref name="Metro"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Three Bearcats earn AP All-America honors |url=http://www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/football/2010/pressreleases/10fb1217a.htm |publisher=Northwest Missouri State University Athletics |date=December 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222180356/http://www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/football/2010/pressreleases/10fb1217a.htm |archive-date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 2 1/8 | weight = 244 | dash = 4.72 | ten split = 1.65 | twenty split = 2.79 | shuttle = 4.41 | cone drill = 6.90 | vertical = 37.0 | broad ft = 9 | broad in = 9 | bench = 25 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=64511&DraftYear=2011 |title=Josh Baker College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 5, 2025}}</ref> }}
===New York Jets=== The New York Jets signed Baker as an undrafted free agent on July 27, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jets announce UDFA class |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/5946/jets-announce-udfa-class |publisher=ESPN New York |author=Cimini, Rich |date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107023230/http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/5946/jets-announce-udfa-class |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> To meet the roster requirement, Baker was waived by the Jets on September 3.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets trim roster to 53; make two trades |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/09/jets-trim-roster-to-53-make-two-trades |work=New York Daily News |author=Mehta, Manish |date=September 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103170833/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/09/jets-trim-roster-to-53-make-two-trades |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=September 3, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was signed to the team's practice squad a day later.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets awarded four players off waivers, including QB Kevin O'Connell; cut Aaron Maybin |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/09/jets_claim_center_colin_baxter.html |work=The Star-Ledger |author=Vrentas, Jenny |date=September 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018110831/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/09/jets_claim_center_colin_baxter.html |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Baker was called up to the active roster on September 27, 2011, following a season-ending injury to tight end Jeff Cumberland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Baker to Active Roster, Cumberland, Turner to IR |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Baker-to-Active-Roster-Cumberland-Turner-to-IR/23ba5d6e-af4c-4f01-970c-ac21ff106962 |publisher=New York Jets |author=Jets Media Relations Department |date=September 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928104948/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Baker-to-Active-Roster-Cumberland-Turner-to-IR/23ba5d6e-af4c-4f01-970c-ac21ff106962 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |access-date=September 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On December 24, 2011, he caught his first career touchdown against the New York Giants.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets summer Q&A with fullback/tight end Josh Baker |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/07/jets_summer_qa_with_fullbackti.html |work=The Star-Ledger |author=Orr, Conor |date=July 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072630/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/07/jets_summer_qa_with_fullbackti.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 11 games of 2011, Baker made 3 receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 3 punts for 60 return yards.
Baker suffered a severe knee injury on August 26, 2012 and was placed on the team's injured reserve list the following day.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets waive/injured Josh Baker, trim roster to 74 |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/08/jets_will_waiveinjured_josh_ba.html |work=The Star-Ledger |author=Vrentas, Jenny |date=August 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905012350/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/08/jets_will_waiveinjured_josh_ba.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was waived by the Jets on February 19, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Five Are Gone, but 'They'll Always Be Jets' |url=http://blog.newyorkjets.com/2013/02/19/five-are-gone-but-theyll-always-be-jets/ |publisher=New York Jets |author=Lange, Randy |date=February 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222065642/http://blog.newyorkjets.com/2013/02/19/five-are-gone-but-theyll-always-be-jets/ |archive-date=February 22, 2013 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Tampa Bay Buccaneers=== Baker signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 1, 2014. He was waived by the Bucs on May 12, 2014.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120323155703/http://www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/football/2010/players/baker_josh.htm Northwest Missouri Bearcats bio] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120327110905/http://www.bluehens.com/sportsinfo/football/roster09-baker.html Delaware Fighting Blue Hens bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Josh}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Chesapeake, Virginia Category:American football tight ends Category:Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football players Category:Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football players Category:New York Jets players Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players