PRO: The Titans traded for Jerome Baker in the middle of the 2024 campaign to bring toughness and experience to the inside linebacker position. The 6-foot-2-inch, 232-pounder is a savvy defender who has shown an ability to get to the quarterback during his NFL career. The Ohio State product entered the league as a third-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2018. He spent his first six seasons with the club, appearing in 94 games with 82 starts while collecting 581 tackles, 22.5 sacks, five interceptions, 31 stops for loss, 75 quarterback pressures, 21 passes defensed and six forced fumbles. Baker signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks during the 2024 offseason and appeared in five games with the team before being traded to the Titans.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Baker led the Dolphins in tackles for three consecutive seasons from 2019-21, and became the first Dolphins player since 2000 to record 500-plus tackles in the first five years of his career. His 581 career tackles are seventh among his draft class entering the 2024 season.
• In 2021, Baker was named AFC Defensive Player of Month after collecting 16 tackles, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback pressures and six stops for loss in three contests.
TITANS TIDBITS:
• In 2018, Baker established his Expand the Land Foundation to inspire youth and provide mentorship and programming in South Florida and his hometown of Cleveland.
• In 2021, Baker was the Miami Dolphins nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. During his time in South Florida, he annually held Season of Giving events at local Boys & Girls Clubs to provide holiday gifts for children ages 6-10 and meal distribution for needing families.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Cleveland, Ohio, native was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round (73rd overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft.
• Released by the Dolphins on March 5, 2024.
• Signed by the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent on March 17, 2024.
• Traded by the Seahawks along with a Seattle 2025 fourth-round pick to the Titans for linebacker Ernest Jones IV.
COLLEGE:
• Played three seasons at Ohio State (2015-17) and saw action in 33 games with 25 starts. Registered 158 tackles (90 solo), seven sacks, two interceptions, five passes defensed, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. Following the 2017 season announced his decision to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL Draft.
• As a junior (2017), named honorable mention All-Big Ten after starting 13 games and posting 72 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
• As a sophomore (2016), selected honorable mention All-Big Ten after playing in all 13 games with 12 starts and registering 83 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery.
• As a true freshman (2015), played in seven games and notched three solo tackles.
• Majored in criminology at Ohio State.
PERSONAL:
• Attended Benedictine (Cleveland, Ohio) High School and was a Top 10 linebacker prospect nationally.
• As a senior (2014), named first-team Division IV All-State by the Associated Press and earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. His last high school game was a state championship game win. Baker scored twice, including the winning score early in the fourth quarter, to cap a 14-1 season and give Benedictine its seventh state title. He also had 11 stops on defense to earn game MVP honors.
• Son of Theodora and Jerome Baker Sr.
• Follow Baker on Instagram and X at @Lastname_Baker.
• Born Jerome Baker Jr. on Dec. 25, 1996 in Cleveland, Ohio.