Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach (Defensive Line)
- Phone:
- 325-3470
- Position(s):
- Defensive Line
Season at MSU: 3rd
Twitter: @MSUCoachBaker
A 19-year NFL coaching veteran, Brian Baker has molded Mississippi State’s defensive line into one of the most ferocious and consistent units in all of college football. With over 30 years of coaching experience, Baker enters his third season with the Bulldogs and first on Joe Moorhead’s staff.
Baker’s leadership was evident in 2017 as the Bulldogs’ produced multiple first-team All-SEC defensive linemen for the first time in school history. Both sophomore Jeffery Simmons and junior Montez Sweat earned the nod on the Associated Press and Coaches’ teams. It represented just the second time since 2003 that an SEC West school produced multiple first-team All-SEC defensive linemen (Alabama, 2015).
Simmons, who was constantly double-teamed, ranked 11th in the SEC in tackles for loss and added five sacks and 41 quarterback pressures. He also became the first SEC player since 2004 to lead the nation in blocked punts/kicks with three. All Sweat did was lead the SEC in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (15.5) during his debut campaign. He was the first Bulldog to lead the league in sacks since 2005.
In 2018, Baker’s personnel combined to claim five of the 13 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week Awards with Sweat earning it three times and Simmons twice. The next closest schools – Auburn, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Missouri – each earned it twice during the year.
Baker’s first season of 2016 in Starkville saw his unit rank in the top five of the SEC in tackles for loss (81). Three of his players signed NFL free agent contracts in May 2017, including Nelson Adams (Pittsburgh Steelers), Johnathan Calvin (Green Bay Packers) and Nick James (Detroit Lions).
Baker also mentored Simmons into a Freshman All-SEC season. Simmons led all SEC freshmen in forced fumbles (two), and he finished with 40 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries. He ranked fifth among SEC freshmen in tackles. Simmons became the first Bulldog defensive lineman to earn the honor since current Kansas City Chiefs standout Chris Jones in 2013.
Baker coached eight Pro Bowlers, including the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers. He spent the 2014 season with the Redskins as outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan recorded a career-best 13.5 sacks under Baker’s tutelage.
Prior to his year in Washington, he served as the Cleveland Browns’ outside linebackers coach, helping the Browns finish third in the AFC and ninth in the NFL in total defense (332.4 yards per game).
Baker spent the 2011-12 seasons as the defensive line coach with the Dallas Cowboys. Under Baker, nose tackle Jay Ratliff earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2012. Baker also contributed to the Pro Bowl selections of linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer as part of his responsibilities overseeing the pass rush.
Prior to his time in Dallas, Baker spent two seasons as the Carolina Panthers’ defensive line coach from 2009-10. In 2010, defensive end Charles Johnson led the Panthers with 11.5 sacks, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. In 2009, defensive end Julius Peppers led the team with 10.5 sacks en route to a Pro Bowl selection.
Baker coached the St. Louis Rams’ defensive line from 2006-08. In 2008, his unit notched 20 of the team’s 30 sacks. In 2006, defensive end Leonard Little tied for fifth in the league with 13.0 sacks, while defensive tackle La'Roi Glover finished sixth among NFC defensive tackles with 5.5 sacks.
From 2001-05, Baker worked in various capacities for the Minnesota Vikings, serving as defensive line coach in 2001 and 2004-05 and as linebackers coach from 2002-03. He helped defensive tackle Kevin Williams earn his first of six Pro Bowl selections following the 2004 season. That season, Williams recorded a career-best 11.5 sacks and was selected to the AP All-Pro team. Along with Williams, defensive end Lance Johnstone totaled 11 sacks in 2004 to give the Vikings the third-most prolific sack duo in the league that year with 22.5.
Baker was the Detroit Lions’ defensive line coach from 1997-2000, spearheading defensive linemen Robert Porcher (1997 and 1999) and Luther Elliss (1999 and 2000) to Pro Bowl selections. In 1999, Porcher registered 15 sacks, the most by any Lion in a single-season since sacks became official in 1982.
Baker made his NFL coaching debut as the defensive line coach with the San Diego Chargers in 1996 after spending 12 years on the collegiate level. He had stints at Georgia Tech (1987-95), Army (1986) and Maryland (1984-85).
The highlight of his nine years as linebackers coach at Georgia Tech came in 1990. The Yellow Jackets claimed the 1990 National Championship as the nation's only unbeaten team with an 11-0-1 record. Tech defeated Nebraska 45–21 in the 1991 Citrus Bowl to complete the unbeaten season.
A native of Baltimore, Md., Baker played outside linebacker at the University of Maryland from 1980-83 and helped the Terps win the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1983. After his playing career, he helped coach outside linebackers as a student coach and graduate assistant from 1984-85 and earned a degree in marketing in 1985.
Baker and his wife, Nevada, have three daughters, Nicole, Jade and Jasmine.
The Brian Baker File
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Education: Bachelor’s in marketing from Maryland, 1985
Wife: Nevada
Children: Nicole, Jade, Jasmine (three daughters)
Birthdate: June 20, 1962
Coaching Experience
2016-present: Mississippi State (Defensive Line)
2015: Covenant Christian Academy of Colleyville (Texas) (Assistant Coach/Mentor)
2014: Washington Redskins (Outside Linebackers)
2013: Cleveland Browns (Outside Linebackers)
2011-12: Dallas Cowboys (Defensive Line)
2009-10: Carolina Panthers (Defensive Line)
2006-08: St. Louis Rams (Defensive Line)
2004-05: Minnesota Vikings (Defensive Line)
2002-03: Minnesota Vikings (Linebackers)
2001: Minnesota Vikings (Defensive Line)
1997-2000: Detroit Lions (Defensive Line)
1996: San Diego Chargers (Defensive Line)
1995: Georgia Tech (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
1987-94: Georgia Tech (Linebackers)
1986: Army (Fullbacks)
1985: Maryland (Graduate Assistant)
1984: Maryland (Student Assistant)
Bowl Games as a Coach (year indicates season)
2017: TaxSlayer Bowl (MSU)
2016: St. Petersburg Bowl (MSU)
2004: NFC Divisional Round (Minnesota Vikings)
1999: NFC Wild Card (Detroit Lions)
1997: NFC Wild Card (Detroit Lions)
1991: Aloha Bowl (Georgia Tech)
1990: Citrus Bowl (Georgia Tech) (National Champions)
1985: Cherry Bowl (Maryland)
1984: Sun Bowl (Maryland)
