Chris Baker (tight end)

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Chris Baker
refer to caption
Baker with the Patriots in 2009
No. 81, 86
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1979-11-18) November 18, 1979 (age 44)
Queens, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:258 lb (117 kg)
Career information
High school:Saline (MI)
College:Michigan State
NFL draft:2002 / Round: 3 / Pick: 88
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:168
Receiving yards:1,763
Receiving touchdowns:15
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Christopher T. Baker (born November 18, 1979) is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State.

College career[edit]

He played college football at Michigan State from 1998-2001. He finished with 133 catches for 1,705 yards and 13 touchdowns[1] including a career best season as a Senior with 40 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns.

College statistics[edit]

Season GP Receiving
Rec Yds Avg TD
1998 11 22 305 13.9 3
1999 12 38 391 10.3 4
2000 11 33 461 14.0 2
2001 12 40 548 13.7 4
Totals[2] 46 133 1,705 12.8 13

Professional career[edit]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4 in
(1.93 m)
258 lb
(117 kg)
31+12 in
(0.80 m)
9+14 in
(0.23 m)
4.87 s 1.71 s 2.82 s 4.22 s 6.95 s 35 in
(0.89 m)
9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)
18 reps
All values were taken from the NFL Scouting Combine and published in scouting report.

New York Jets[edit]

Baker was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round (88th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.[3] During the 2005 season, he served as the starting tight end until becoming injured and placed on the injured reserve list. Baker had a breakout season in 2006, setting career bests in receiving yards, receptions, touchdowns and starts, as the Jets finished 10-6 earning the fifth wild card spot. After a career year in 2007, Chris said the Jets promised him a new contract and lied.[4]

Baker felt disrespected with the Jets decision to use their first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft on Dustin Keller and their acquisition of free agent Bubba Franks, which pushed Baker to third on the depth chart and made him the least-paid Jets tight end, despite his productive past two seasons.[5][6] The Jets finally extended Baker with a three-year, $12.2 million contract extension through 2012, but it came with an out-clause stating the Jets would owe him nothing if he was cut from the team before March 5, 2009.[7]

On February 20, 2009, Baker was released by the Jets.[8]

New England Patriots[edit]

On February 27, 2009, Baker signed a five-year contract with the New England Patriots.[9] On September 27, 2009, Baker caught Tom Brady's 200th career touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the Patriots and Falcons game.[10]

On March 4, 2010, Baker was released by the Patriots.[11] Baker played in all 16 regular games for the 2009 season.

Seattle Seahawks[edit]

On March 13, 2010, Baker signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks, primarily to serve as a blocking tight end.[12] On January 4, 2011, Baker was placed on a season-ending injured reserve due to a fractured bone in his hip, four days before Seattle's playoff game against the New Orleans Saints.[13][14] He caught nine passes for 116 yards and a touchdown through the season.

On February 24, 2011, Baker was released by the Seahawks.[15] Baker played in all 16 regular games for 2010 season.

NFL career statistics[edit]

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season[edit]

Year Team Games Receiving
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
2002 NYJ 12 1 3 2 14 7.0 10 0
2003 NYJ 16 0 18 14 137 9.8 24 0
2004 NYJ 16 0 29 18 182 10.1 23 4
2005 NYJ 8 8 25 18 269 14.9 47 1
2006 NYJ 16 14 45 31 300 9.7 28 4
2007 NYJ 15 15 61 41 409 10.0 22 3
2008 NYJ 16 13 30 21 194 9.2 29 0
2009 NWE 16 7 19 14 142 10.1 36 2
2010 SEA 16 13 19 9 116 12.9 44 1
131 71 249 168 1,763 10.5 47 15

Playoffs[edit]

Year Team Games Receiving
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
2002 NYJ 2 0 3 3 26 8.7 16 1
2004 NYJ 2 0 4 4 15 3.8 6 0
2006 NYJ 1 1 6 5 68 13.6 26 0
2009 NWE 1 1 2 1 2 2.0 2 0
6 2 15 13 111 8.5 26 1

Personal life[edit]

In May 2009 Chris married his girlfriend, Yadira Taveras, in Long Island, New York. Together, they have a son, Chris Jr, and daughter Tamia. They reside near Boca Raton, Florida.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chris Baker Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  2. ^ "Chris Baker College Stats | College Football at". Sports-reference.com. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  3. ^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. ^ Baker upset over contract situation as Jets draft another tight end Archived November 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine ESPN.com, April 28, 2008
  5. ^ "A Closer Look at Chris Baker's Contract Situation". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  6. ^ "Chris Baker no closer as Jets bring in Dustin Keller". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  7. ^ "Chris Baker's long-awaited deal with Gang Green short on security". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on August 3, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  8. ^ Jets Release Tight End Baker Archived February 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine SI.com, February 20, 2009
  9. ^ "The allure of winning brings Chris Baker to the Patriots | New England Patriots | projo.com | the Providence Journal". Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  10. ^ Ex-Jet Baker Happy to Join Rival[permanent dead link] Yahoo Sports, March 3, 2009
  11. ^ "Patriots release TE Chris Baker". Boston.com. March 4, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  12. ^ "Seattle agrees to terms with TE Chris Baker - NFL - Sporting News". Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  13. ^ "Seattle Seahawks place tight end Baker, guard Pitts on injured reserve". GuelphMercury.com. January 4, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  14. ^ O'Neil, Danny (January 3, 2011). "#Seahawks TE Chris Baker (hip) and G Chester Pitts (concussion) out for this game". @dannyoneil. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  15. ^ O'Neil, Danny (March 3, 2011). "Seahawks release TE Chris Baker, QB Nate Davis". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 2, 2019.

External links[edit]