Budda Baker

Bishard “Budda” Baker was born on January 10, 1996, in Bellevue, Washington. He attended Bellevue High School, where he excelled in both football and track & field. During his high school career, he won three consecutive 3A state championships in football and eight individual state titles in track & field, including the 100 meters, 200 meters, 4×100 relay, and 4×400 relay as a senior. He was recognized as the Associated Press and Seattle Times State Player of the Year in 2013, and the 2013-14 Seattle Times Male Athlete of the Year (all sports), demonstrating early athletic versatility and achievement. Baker played collegiately for the Washington Huskies, starting all 40 games in his three seasons. He earned consensus NCAA All-American honors in 2016 and was a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection, tallying 200 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, and five interceptions. He declared for the NFL Draft after his junior year, a testament to his impactful college career.

Baker was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round (36th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. He quickly made an impact, earning first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection as a special teamer in his rookie year. His career with the Cardinals has been marked by consistent performance at the safety position, leading all NFL defensive backs in total tackles (874) and solo tackles (603) since entering the league in 2017. He has recorded 33 career outings with double-digit tackles, consistently demonstrating his defensive prowess. Baker has been voted a team captain for five consecutive years (2020-2024), highlighting his leadership within the organization.

In 2024, Baker earned his seventh Pro Bowl selection and fourth All-Pro honor, with his third as a safety. He established career highs with 164 tackles and 10 tackles for loss during the 2024 season, which included seven games with 10+ tackles. His 164 tackles were the second most in the NFL that season and the most by a Cardinals defender since at least 1991. Notably, he reached 100 tackles in just 10 games in 2024, a benchmark not achieved by a Cardinals player since at least 1991. Baker has signed multiple contract extensions with the Cardinals, most recently a three-year extension on December 18, 2024, securing his tenure with the team through the 2027 season and recognizing his value as a foundational player.