# Josh Baker > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Josh_Baker > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Josh_Baker.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Baker > Source revision: 1316170566 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Tight_end) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|12|25|mf=y}} | birth_place = [Chesapeake, Virginia](/source/Chesapeake%2C_Virginia), U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 244 | high_school = [Western Branch](/source/Western_Branch_High_School) (Chesapeake) | college = [Northwest Missouri State](/source/Northwest_Missouri_Bearcats_football) | undraftedyear = 2011 | pastteams = * [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets) ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2012}}) * [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](/source/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers) ({{NFL Year|2014}})* | status = | statweek = | statseason = | statlabel1 = [Receptions](/source/Reception_(gridiron_football)) | statvalue1 = 3 | statlabel2 = [Receiving yards](/source/Reception_(gridiron_football)) | statvalue2 = 27 | statlabel3 = [Receiving touchdowns](/source/Touchdown) | statvalue3 = 1 | pfr = B/BakeJo01 }} '''Joshua Stevenson Baker''' (born December 25, 1986{{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 }}) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [tight end](/source/tight_end) in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He played [college football](/source/college_football) for the [Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens](/source/Delaware_Fightin'_Blue_Hens_football) and [Northwest Missouri Bearcats](/source/Northwest_Missouri_Bearcats_football). He played [high school football](/source/high_school_football) at [Western Branch High School](/source/Western_Branch_High_School). ==College career== Baker began his college career at the [University of Delaware](/source/University_of_Delaware) in 2005. Although among the team's top [scout team](/source/scout_team) players, Baker did not participate in a formal match-up that year.{{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 }} In 2006, he was named the [Blue Hens](/source/Delaware_Fightin'_Blue_Hens_football)' third string [tight end](/source/tight_end) appearing in ten games in a back-up role primarily on [running plays](/source/Rush_(gridiron_football)) and [special teams](/source/special_teams). Baker recorded one catch for no yards and had a 14-yard [kickoff return](/source/Kickoff_return). 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. 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](/source/underage_drinking) and having a lit candle in his dorm room.{{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 }} Baker went to live with his father in [Waco, Texas](/source/Waco%2C_Texas), where he attended [Collin County Community College](/source/Collin_County_Community_College) and worked at an [OfficeMax](/source/OfficeMax) earning $9.00 an hour, which went toward his community college fees. He also worked with a professional trainer to stay in shape.{{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 }} Delaware retained Baker's athletic scholarship and he returned for his [redshirt senior season](/source/Redshirt_(college_sports)) in 2009. Baker tore multiple knee ligaments in the first quarter of the Blue Hens' first game of the year, ending his season. Baker was denied a [medical redshirt](/source/medical_redshirt) and transferred to Division II [Northwest Missouri State University](/source/Northwest_Missouri_State_University). 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](/source/Associated_Press)' Little All-America Team.{{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 }} ==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](/source/Pro_Day){{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}} }} ===New York Jets=== The [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets) signed Baker as an [undrafted free agent](/source/undrafted_free_agent) on July 27, 2011.{{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 }} To meet the roster requirement, Baker was waived by the Jets on September 3.{{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 }} He was signed to the team's practice squad a day later.{{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 }} Baker was called up to the active roster on September 27, 2011, following a season-ending injury to tight end [Jeff Cumberland](/source/Jeff_Cumberland).{{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 }} On December 24, 2011, he caught his first career touchdown against the [New York Giants](/source/New_York_Giants).{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} He was waived by the Jets on February 19, 2013.{{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 }} ===Tampa Bay Buccaneers=== Baker signed with the [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](/source/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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Josh Baker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Baker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Baker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.