Jon Baker (placekicker)

Jonathan David Baker (born August 13, 1972) is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. He also was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Arizona State University.

Jon Baker
No. 10, 12
Position:Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1972-08-13) August 13, 1972
Bakersfield, California
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:Bakersfield (CA) Foothill
College:Arizona State
Undrafted:1995
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:5
Player stats at NFL.com
Career CFL statistics
Games played:14
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Baker attended Foothill High School, where he lettered in football, soccer, track and basketball. In football, he was a two-time All-South Yosemite League selection, playing at kicker and quarterback.

He enrolled at Bakersfield Community College. As a freshman, he made 2 field goals of over 50 yards and hit a game winner with 0:01 seconds left.[1]

Baker transferred to Arizona State University after his sophomore season. As a junior, he began kicking barefoot. He made 18-of-26 field goals and 26-of-26 point after attempts for 80 points.

As a senior, he made 17-of-24 field goals and 23-of-24 extra point attempts for 74 points. He received Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week twice. He made 3 field goals in a game three times. At the time, only Luis Zendejas had made more field goals in a season for Arizona State than Baker.

Professional career

Baker was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 1995 NFL Draft. After placekicker Chris Boniol missed the first 3 preseason with a pulled quadriceps in his right leg, the Cowboys were forced to make the unconventional move of keeping Baker as a kickoff specialist.[2] He played in 3 games and was released on September 19.[3]

On May 16, 1996, he signed as a free agent with the San Francisco 49ers.[4] He was cut on July 18.[5] On April 2, 1997, he was re-signed by the San Francisco 49ers.[6] He was limited with groin and heel injuries. On August 15, he was released after not being able to pass Gary Anderson on the depth chart.[7]

On February 18, 1998, he was signed by the Miami Dolphins and allocated to the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe.[8] He made 6-of-7 field goals, while the extra points were kicked by Scottish rugby player Gary Parker.[9] He was released by the Dolphins before the start of the season on August 8.[10]

In 1999, he played in eight games with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.[11] He made 20-of-28 field-goal attempts and led the league with a 60.5-yard average per kickoff. He was released to make room for Sean Fleming, who returned from the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL.

On December 21, 1999, he was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs, to be the team's kickoff specialist.[12] He hit 3 kickoffs out of bounds in the season finale against the Oakland Raiders, which contributed to a 38-41 overtime loss.[13] A win would have given the Chiefs the AFC West championship and a playoff berth. He wasn't re-signed after the season.

In June 2000, he signed with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League, handling the kickoffs and long range field goals, while Lui Passaglia attempted most of the field goal.[14] He played in five games, until being released to make room for placekicker Dan Giancola on August 9.[15]

On October 22, 2001, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos to replace an injured Sean Fleming.[16] He played in one game, missing one field goal and had another one blocked. He was released on October 28.[17]

On May 23, 2002, he was signed by the Bakersfield Blitz of the af2.[18] In 2003, he set a league regular season record with a 54-yard field goal.[19]

References
  1. "Devils go down on the 'farm' in quest for next place-kicker". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  2. "Cowboys turn to youth Dallas to open season with 10 rookies on roster". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  3. "Boniol still to get kicks for Dallas". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  4. "Transactions". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  5. "Transactions". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  6. "49ers sign budget kicker". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  7. "Anderson gets nod as 49er kicker". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  8. "Transactions". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  9. "Would-be dragon slayers". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  10. "Dolphins' kicker boots 4 field goals in 19-16 triumph". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  11. "Shoeless Jon right on". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  12. "Chiefs sign kickoff specialist from CFL". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  13. "Raiders' Finale Is Extra Special / Wild OT win knocks Chiefs from playoffs". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  14. "Unfinished business in Vancouver". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  15. "Transactions". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  16. "Barefooted Baker not afraid of cold". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  17. "Short Yardage". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  18. "Blitz gets a kick out of Baker". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  19. "Bakersfield Kicker Jon Baker Sets af2 Record". Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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