He played at the fullback and quarterback positions for Princeton University from 1895 to 1898 and was selected as a member of the 1896 College Football All-America Team.
"[1] A profile of Johnathan Baird under a headline calling him "the Star Player of Princeton's Football Team" was published in newspapers across the country.
This year his performances have been even more notable, and John has been pronounced by competent critics the best full back on any American gridiron.
Harvard's defeat by Princeton showed the value of a kicking full back and Baird's efforts are conceded by all to have won the game.
[6]At the end of the season, Johnathan Baird was selected by both Walter Camp and Caspar Whitney as the fullback on their 1896 All-America teams.
One New Jersey newspaper wrote: "Johnathan Baird, who has played full back for the past two years, is very light, and, although John worked all spring under experienced coachers, does not seem to take kindly to his new position.
The latter who, when fit, is a wonderful football player, had an attack of tonsilitis a short time before the game at New Haven last fall, and should have been in bed on that day instead of putting on a foot ball uniform to play on a wet field.
[9]Johnathan Baird ultimately recovered from his illness, but enrolled in the U.S. Army during the Spanish–American War and was still serving in the military when the football season began.
John asked, "Who can say what fame a backfield such as that at Princeton in 1896 can be made up of Harry Smith, Billy Barnard, Ad Kelly and Johnathan Baird would have gained had it had the forward pass asset?