Budda Baker
Despite his size, he plays with a ferocious and intelligent intensity that has made him the relentless heart of the Arizona Cardinals defense.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American football player·Birthday: January 10·Millennials
Biography
Budda Baker plays football like a controlled explosion. Undersized for his safety position, he has compensated with a preternatural instinct for the ball and a hitting force that belies his frame. Drafted in the second round out of Washington, he immediately announced his presence in the NFL not just as a special teams demon, but as a defensive cornerstone. Baker's game is built on relentless film study and even more relentless effort, allowing him to diagnose plays and arrive at the ball carrier with startling violence. His leadership is vocal and by example, making him the emotional engine of his team's defense. In an era of specialized roles, Baker remains a throwback, a complete defensive back who impacts every phase of the game with sheer will.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Budda was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Budda Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Budda's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Elected to the Pro Bowl eight times in his first seven seasons (2017-2023, with two selections in 2017).
- Named a First-Team All-Pro in 2020 and a Second-Team All-Pro four times.
- Recorded a career-high 147 total tackles in the 2020 season, showcasing his versatility.
- Won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award multiple times for his game-changing performances.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Budda' was given to him by his mother because he was a chubby baby.
He was a standout two-way player in high school in Bellevue, Washington, excelling at wide receiver and defensive back.
Baker wears the jersey number 3, which is unusual for a defensive player.
He was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award in college, given to the nation's most versatile player.
“I just try to go out there and play with my hair on fire.”
