Jearld Baylis started his professonal football career with the New Orleans team in the USFL in 1984 and moved with the franchise to Portland. After his release, Baylis signed as a free agent with the Toronto Argonauts in August of 1986 and played 9 games for the boatmen that season. Baylis would play three more seasons for Toronto (1987-89), winning both East and CFL All-Star honours in 1987 while with the Argos. Baylis was then involved in a monster trade prior to the 1990 season. The Argos traded Baylis, quarterback Rick Johnson, linebackers Willie Pless and Tony Visco, wide receiver Emmanual Tobert and defensive back Todd Wiseman to t he BC Lions to obtain future HOF quarterback Matt Dunnigan. Baylis ended up missing the 1990 season with an injury and finally joined BC for the 1991 season. The Lions released Baylis in October of 1991, and he signed in June of 1992 with Saskatchewan. Baylis went on to prove the Lions made a mistake in releasing him as he won both West and CFL All-Star honours in his two seasons in Saskatchewan in 1992 and 1993. In 1993, Baylis was also named the Outstanding Defensive Player in the CFL. Baylis became a free agent after the 1993 season and signed with the Baltimore Stallions expansion club where he played his final two seasons. IN 1995, Baylis won his fourth division all-star selection, this time a South All-Star and his fourth CFL All-Star while the Stallions went on to win the Grey Cup that year.

Defensive tackles were first officially tracked in 1987 and special teams tackles and tackles for losses in 1991.