Football
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Brian Baker joined the coaching staff of Alabama head coach Nick Saban in January of 2019 as the associate head and defensive line coach. Â
Baker, who holds 19 years of NFL coaching experience, joins the Crimson Tide's staff after three seasons directing one of the nation's top defensive lines at
Mississippi State. Prior to his time with the Bulldogs, Baker coached the defensive line or outside linebackers from 1996-2014 in the NFL with the Chargers, Lions, Vikings, Rams, Panthers, Cowboys, Browns and Redskins.
At Alabama, he inherits a defensive line that will have to replace Outland Trophy winner Quinnen Williams at nose guard and senior NFL prospect Isaiah Buggs.
Alabama does return senior Raekwon Davis, who boasts 128 career tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, along with junior LaBryan Ray, who had six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season.
Baker's leadership was evident in his three seasons in Starkville as the Bulldogs' produced multiple first team All-SEC defensive linemen for the first time in school history in 2017 and repeated that accomplishment the very next season in 2018. Both Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat earned the nod on the Associated Press and Coaches' teams in each of the last two seasons. It represented just the second and third times since 2003 that an SEC West school produced multiple first team All-SEC defensive linemen (Alabama, 2015).
Simmons and Sweat combined for 58.5 tackles for loss and 29 sacks in the last two seasons. Sweat led the SEC in sacks (10.5) in 2017 and finished second in 2018 (11.5), while Simmons was fourth in tackles for loss (17.0) in 2018. Sweat was the first Bulldog to lead the league in sacks since 2005 when he paced the conference during his junior campaign.
Baker's 2016 season, his first 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 of 2017, including Nelson Adams (Pittsburgh Steelers), Johnathan Calvin (Green Bay Packers) and Nick James (Detroit Lions).
During his 19 years in the NFL, Baker coached eight Pro Bowlers, including the likes of DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers. His final NFL season was the 2014 campaign with the Washington Redskins where he coached the outside linebackers. Under his tutelage, Ryan Kerrigan recorded a career-best 13.5 sacks in that season.
Prior to his year in Washington, he served as the Cleveland Browns' outside linebackers coach in 2013, 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 while also contributing to the Pro Bowl selections of linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer as part of his responsibilities overseeing the pass rush.
He spent the 2009-10 seasons as the Carolina Panthers' defensive line coach as Charles Johnson recorded 11.5 sacks (tied-fourth in NFL) in 2010 and end Julius Peppers notched 10.5 sacks on his way to the Pro Bowl in 2009.
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 was 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. In that 2004 campaign, Williams recorded a career-best 11.5 sacks and was selected to the Associated Press All-Pro team.
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.
He spent nine years as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech from 1987-95, coaching linebackers in each of those years and coordinating the defense in 1995. The 1990 team at Georgia Tech claimed the national championship with a win over Nebraska in the Citrus Bowl to finish 11-0-1. He served as Army's running backs coach in 1986 after two seasons at Maryland in 1984-85 as a student assistant and graduate assistant.
A native of Baltimore, Md., Baker played outside linebacker at the University of Maryland from 1980-83 and helped the Terps win the ACC in 1983. He earned a degree in marketing from Maryland in 1985.
Baker and his wife, Nevada, have three daughters, Nicole, Jade and Jasmine.
