Jerome Baker Bio
Jerome Baker is an American professional football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 230 pounds, Baker has built his reputation as a fast, sideline-to-sideline defender with a knack for making big plays against the pass. Over the course of his career, he has appeared for the Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns.
Early Life and Background
Jerome Baker was born on December 25, 1996, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in the same city where he would eventually return to play professional football, attending Benedictine High School in Cleveland. At Benedictine, he was a member of the 2014 State Championship football team and was widely regarded as the number two recruit in the state of Ohio for the class of 2015. His strong high school career drew attention from several top college programs around the country.
Baker originally committed to the University of Florida to play college football, but he later changed his commitment to Ohio State University. The decision to stay closer to home allowed him to continue developing in a familiar environment while joining one of the most storied programs in college football. His combination of size, speed, and football IQ made him a high-priority recruit for the Buckeyes coaching staff.
Path to American Football
Baker played at Ohio State from 2015 to 2017, working his way into a starting role early in his college career. During his time with the Buckeyes, he appeared in 33 games and made 25 starts, finishing his college career with 159 tackles, seven sacks, and two interceptions. His production earned him Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition in both 2016 and 2017, the two seasons in which he served as a full-time starter.
On January 8, 2018, Baker announced on his Twitter account that he would forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL draft. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine, completed the majority of drills, and later participated at Ohio State’s pro day on March 22, where he performed the short shuttle, three-cone drill, and positional drills. Draft experts projected him as a third or fourth-round pick, with Sports Illustrated ranking him as the seventh-best linebacker in the draft class.
Jerome Baker Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
The Miami Dolphins selected Jerome Baker in the third round with the 73rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, making him the tenth linebacker chosen that year. On June 2, 2018, the Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $3.80 million contract that included a signing bonus of $975,200. He quickly earned a starting role at strongside linebacker and was named alongside Kiko Alonso as one of the Dolphins’ starting outside linebackers to begin the regular season.
Baker made his professional regular-season debut in the Dolphins’ season-oporter against the Tennessee Titans, recording six combined tackles in a 27–20 victory. He finished his rookie campaign with 79 combined tackles, three sacks, one interception, and one touchdown in 16 games with 11 starts. In 2019, he emerged as a team leader in tackles, finishing the season with 126 tackles, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception.
Miami Dolphins Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Baker continued to develop into one of the Dolphins’ most productive defensive players in 2020. In Week 1 against the New England Patriots, he recorded a team-high 16 tackles, sacked quarterback Cam Newton, and forced a fumble. Later in the season, he led the team with nine tackles and 2.5 sacks against the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in Week 14, with one of his sacks resulting in a 30-yard loss.
On June 13, 2021, Baker signed a three-year, $39 million contract extension with the Dolphins, cementing his place as a core member of the defense. He remained a starting linebacker for Miami through the 2023 season. On January 9, 2024, the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve, and on March 5, 2024, he was released after contract negotiations proposed at the NFL Combine fell through.
Cleveland Browns Era (2025–Present)
After brief stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans in 2024, Baker signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns on March 24, 2025. The move brought the Cleveland native back to his hometown, joining a defense looking to add experienced playmakers at the linebacker position. He is expected to compete for a starting role during the 2025 season.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Baker’s career came on November 4, 2018, when he recorded his first career interception during a 13–6 win against the New York Jets. His 2.5-sack performance against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, including a 30-yard loss on one of the sacks, stands out as one of the most disruptive individual efforts of his career. Reaching the 100-tackle mark in a season for the first time in 2019 signaled his emergence as a full-time NFL starter.
Jerome Baker Career Highlights
Jerome Baker has recorded more than 400 combined tackles across his NFL career, along with multiple sacks, interceptions, and forced fumbles. He has been a regular presence on the stat sheet since his rookie season and has proven durable when healthy, often leading his teams in tackles from the linebacker position.
Miami Dolphins Highlights
During his time with the Dolphins, Baker established himself as a productive every-down linebacker, finishing his rookie season with three sacks, one interception, and one touchdown. He followed that with a 126-tackle campaign in 2019 and a 16-tackle, 1.5-sack performance against the New England Patriots in the 2020 season opener. His three-year, $39 million contract extension in 2021 reflected his importance to the Miami defense.
Jerome Baker Family
Personal Life
Jerome Baker was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the same city where he attended Benedictine High School before going on to star at Ohio State. His return to Cleveland as a member of the Browns in 2025 brought his professional career full circle, allowing him to play in the community where he grew up.
2025 Season Performance
Jerome Baker signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns on March 24, 2025, returning to his hometown to provide veteran leadership and playmaking ability at the linebacker position. The Browns’ defensive staff is expected to use him in a versatile role that takes advantage of his speed in coverage and his experience against the run.
Baker joins a Cleveland defense in the middle of a transition, and his ability to stay healthy and produce at a high level will likely determine how large his role grows as the season progresses. With his contract running through the 2025 season, he has a clear opportunity to re-establish himself as a top NFL linebacker while playing close to home.