Jason Baker is a former American football punter who played in the National Football League (NFL) for over a decade. He began his career as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2001, but was released before the start of the regular season. He then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, but was again released before the season began.
Baker finally found a home with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2002, where he played for two seasons. He then signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2004, where he spent the majority of his career. Baker was known for his consistency and accuracy as a punter, and was a key contributor to the Panthers' success during his time with the team.
In 2006, Baker set a franchise record for the longest punt in Panthers history, with a 79-yard kick against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also set a career high in punts inside the 20-yard line that season, with 34. Baker continued to be a reliable punter for the Panthers over the next few seasons, and was named the team's special teams captain in 2009.
Baker's career came to an end in 2012, when he was released by the Panthers after eight seasons with the team. He finished his career with a total of 770 punts for 33,828 yards, with an average of 43.9 yards per punt. He also had 243 punts inside the 20-yard line and 34 touchbacks.
Despite not being a household name, Baker was a respected and reliable punter throughout his career. He was known for his work ethic and dedication to his craft, and was a valuable asset to the teams he played for. After retiring from the NFL, Baker went on to work as a football analyst for various media outlets, including ESPN and SiriusXM.
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