Budda Baker Bio
Bishard “Budda” Baker is an American professional football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. Baker has earned eight Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors across his career, establishing himself as one of the league’s most respected defensive backs.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 195 pounds, Baker has built his reputation on instinctive play, dependable tackling, and steady leadership in the secondary. He signed a three-year contract extension in December 2024 worth 54 million dollars, keeping him in Arizona through the 2027 season.
Early Life and Background
Bishard “Budda” Baker was born on January 10, 1996, in Bellevue, Washington. He attended Bellevue High School, where he played safety and running back in football and also competed on the track team. As a senior, he was recognized as the Seattle Times High School Athlete of the Year, an honor that reflected his versatility and athletic ability across multiple disciplines.
Baker grew up in the Seattle area and was a Seattle Seahawks fan during his childhood. Rated as a four-star recruit and ranked among the top safeties in his class, he originally committed to the University of Oregon before flipping to the University of Washington the night before National Signing Day. The decision brought him home to the Pacific Northwest and set the stage for an outstanding college career.
Path to American Football
Baker arrived at the University of Washington in 2014 as a true freshman and immediately earned a starting role. He started all 14 games, recording 80 tackles, one interception, and one sack, and was named a Freshman All-American by USA Today. The early production signaled that he was on track to become one of the top defensive back prospects in the country.
As a sophomore in 2015, Baker started 12 of 13 games and was named First-team All-Pac-12 after recording 49 tackles and two interceptions. He was named a preseason All-American entering 2016 and then earned consensus All-American honors following that junior season, becoming a first-team All-American according to The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America. On January 3, 2017, Baker announced his decision to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
At the NFL Combine and Washington’s Pro Day, Baker completed all of the combine and positional drills for more than 50 NFL team representatives and scouts. Most draft experts projected him as a second-round pick, with concerns about his size balanced by praise for his instincts and competitive style.
Budda Baker Career
Early Career (2017)
The Arizona Cardinals selected Baker in the second round, 36th overall, of the 2017 NFL draft, sending picks to the Chicago Bears to move up and grab him. He signed a four-year, 6.83 million dollar rookie contract on May 25, 2017, and earned the backup free safety role behind Tyrann Mathieu to begin the regular season.
Baker earned his first career start on November 19, 2017, after Tyvon Branch suffered a torn ACL, and delivered a season-high 13 combined tackles, two pass breakups, and his first career sack against the Houston Texans. He finished his rookie year with 74 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, one sack, and seven starts across 16 games. His strong debut earned him a Pro Bowl selection as a special teamer, First-team All-Pro honors, and a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Arizona Cardinals Breakthrough (2018-2019)
Under new head coach Steve Wilks in 2018, Baker was named the starting strong safety alongside free safety Antoine Bethea. He finished second on the team with 102 combined tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown scored on a 36-yard fumble return at the Minnesota Vikings. The versatility and toughness he displayed helped solidify his role as a long-term building block for the Cardinals defense.
With the arrival of head coach Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph in 2019, Baker returned to free safety and changed his jersey number from 36 to 32, the number he wore in college. He started all 16 games and led the NFL in solo tackles with 104, finishing the year with 147 combined tackles, six passes defended, one forced fumble, and a half sack. The performance earned him his second Pro Bowl selection and recognition as one of the league’s premier safeties.
Contract Extension Era (2020-2022)
On August 25, 2020, the Cardinals signed Baker to a four-year, 59 million dollar contract extension that made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at the time. He opened the season with a season-high 15 tackles against the San Francisco 49ers and later intercepted a pass by Andy Dalton on Monday Night Football at the Dallas Cowboys, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He added a 90-yard interception return against the Seattle Seahawks, was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, and finished 2020 with 118 tackles, two interceptions, and two sacks. The year brought a third Pro Bowl nod and second First-team All-Pro selection.
In 2021, Baker switched his jersey number to 3 after the NFL expanded jersey-number rules, and he started all 17 games for the first time in his career. He set a career high with three interceptions, including game-clinching picks against the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears, while adding 98 tackles, seven passes defended, and two sacks. He moved to strong safety in 2022 under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, started 15 games before a fractured shoulder sent him to injured reserve, and finished with 111 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defended. His fourth and fifth Pro Bowl selections followed.
Cardinals Veteran Era (2023-2025)
Following the hiring of head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis in 2023, Baker and Jalen Thompson returned as the Cardinals’ starting safeties. A hamstring injury forced him onto injured reserve early in the season, limiting him to 12 games and 87 tackles, but he still earned a sixth Pro Bowl selection. In 2024, Baker signed a three-year, 54 million dollar contract extension in December and started all 17 games, posting a career-high 164 combined tackles, five passes defended, two sacks, and one forced fumble while finishing second in the NFL in combined tackles and earning his seventh Pro Bowl nod.
During the 2025 season, Baker recorded 120 total tackles, one interception, five passes defended, and one fumble recovery. He also notched his 1,000th career tackle, a milestone that underscored his longevity and consistency. The performance brought his eighth Pro Bowl selection and reinforced his status as a cornerstone of the Arizona defense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Baker is known for sharp instincts in run support and the passing game, with a particular strength in tackling in the open field. His competitive temperament and preparation allow him to deliver dependable snaps in both single-high and two-deep safety alignments, and he pairs effective open-field tackling with timely ball production on downfield throws.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Baker’s signature moments are his 90-yard interception return against the Seattle Seahawks in 2020, a 36-yard fumble return touchdown at the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, and the league lead in solo tackles in 2019. He reached 1,000 career tackles during the 2025 season, and he has earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2017 and 2020 along with Second-team All-Pro recognition in 2021 and 2024.
Budda Baker Career Wins
Across his time with the Arizona Cardinals, Budda Baker has produced a steady stream of Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors, highlighted by his First-team All-Pro selections in 2017 and 2020. His career totals include 1,021 combined tackles, 10 sacks, seven forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, 44 pass deflections, eight interceptions, and one defensive touchdown, reflecting consistent impact on every down.
NFL Highlights
Baker’s most decorated seasons came in 2017, when he was a First-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler as a rookie, and in 2020, when he repeated as a First-team All-Pro and added another Pro Bowl nod. He has added Second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and 2024, and he earned an eighth Pro Bowl selection for the 2025 season. A defining milestone came in 2024, when he posted a career-high 164 combined tackles and finished second in the NFL in that category.
Other Awards & Performances
At the collegiate level, Baker was a two-time First-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2015 and 2016 and a consensus All-American in 2016. He received the Art Rooney Award in 2025 in recognition of his sportsmanship. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2017 after his first NFL season.
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Budda Baker Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Baker’s mother began calling him Budda as a baby because she thought he resembled a Buddha doll, and the nickname has stayed with him throughout his football career. He grew up in Bellevue, Washington, in a household shaped by his mother’s influence and the broader Seattle-area community.
Personal Life
Baker has spoken publicly about the loss of his older brother, Robert, who died in 2018 after being shot in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. He has carried that experience into his work in the community and has remained a visible presence in Arizona since joining the Cardinals in 2017.
2025 Season Performance
Budda Baker’s 2025 campaign reinforced his standing as one of the most reliable safeties in the NFL. He played a leading role in the Cardinals’ secondary alongside Jalen Thompson and continued to produce tackles, takeaways, and dependable coverage snaps on a weekly basis.
He finished the season with 120 total tackles, one interception, five passes defended, and one fumble recovery, while also surpassing the 1,000-tackle mark for his career. The production was consistent with the standard he has set since 2017 and helped anchor the back end of the Cardinals defense.
The eighth Pro Bowl selection that came with his 2025 work was a fitting recognition of another strong season, and with his contract running through 2027, Baker remains a central figure in Arizona’s long-term defensive plans. His continued leadership on and off the field gives the Cardinals a steady veteran presence as the team develops its young core.
