Budda Baker Wins 2025 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: A Nod to Grit, Grace, and Leadership
When Budda Baker steps onto a football field, there’s no mistaking the energy he brings. He’s a missile in motion - flying to the ball, delivering hits, and setting the tone for Arizona’s defense.
But what separates Baker isn’t just the fire in his game - it’s the balance. The way he plays hard without crossing the line.
The way he leads without needing to shout. That’s why, on Thursday night in San Francisco at the NFL Honors ceremony, Baker was named the winner of the 2025 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, a recognition voted on by his peers to honor the player who best exemplifies fair play, respect, and integrity.
It’s a fitting honor for the 30-year-old safety, who’s been Arizona’s heartbeat for nearly a decade. He becomes just the second Cardinals player to win the award since it was introduced in 2014 - joining franchise legend Larry Fitzgerald, who took home the inaugural honor.
And while Calais Campbell also won it in 2022, that came during his time with the Ravens. For Baker, this moment is all his.
“I've always played football the way I have played,” Baker said after receiving the award. “Ever since little league, I'm that person who tries to fly around, make hits, make tackles, create opportunities for us to win, but also play football at a high level. Accolades and awards, that can come with that.”
That mindset - effort, discipline, and respect - has been the throughline of Baker’s career. He’s been Arizona’s nominee for the award six years running and a finalist in each of the last three. This year, the recognition finally matched the résumé.
And what a résumé it is.
Durability, Discipline, and Dominance
In 2025, Baker wrapped up his ninth NFL season by once again showing why he’s one of the most dependable defenders in the league. He played 98% of Arizona’s defensive snaps across 16 games - a testament not just to his physical toughness, but to his mental stamina and preparation. Even as the Cardinals’ playoff hopes faded late in the season, Baker remained a constant, anchoring a defense in transition.
His numbers speak volumes: 120 total tackles, 57 of them solo - marking his sixth career season with over 100 combined stops. And while he’s known for his tenacity, Baker’s game is remarkably clean.
Over the last five seasons, he’s been flagged just four times in nearly 5,000 snaps. That’s not just rare - that’s elite-level discipline.
In fact, six of his nine seasons have included just one penalty.
The full stat line over those five years is impressive: 580 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 24 passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. But what doesn’t show up in the box score is just as important - the leadership, the communication, the presence. Baker has been voted a team captain for six straight seasons, a clear signal of the respect he commands in the locker room.
Respected Across the League
Baker’s style of play hasn’t gone unnoticed - even by opponents. Rams receiver Puka Nacua and 49ers tight end George Kittle have both publicly praised the way Baker competes.
They see what fans see: a player who brings relentless energy, but never loses control. Who plays on the edge, but never crosses it.
That’s the essence of the Art Rooney Award.
And while this recognition is individual, Baker isn’t the type to make it about himself. “It just kind of goes to show that I'm just trying to play football the right way and try and do the right thing,” he said. “I want to be a great player but also a great person on and off the field.”
That mindset is why he’s admired not just in Arizona, but across the league. That’s why his peers - the players who line up across from him, who feel his presence every Sunday - chose him for this award.
A Legacy of Leadership
Baker’s eighth Pro Bowl selection came alongside tight end Trey McBride this season, a nod not just to his stats, but to his sustained excellence. And now, with the Art Rooney Award in hand, Baker adds another layer to his legacy - one built on more than just highlight hits and big plays.
As part of the honor, the NFL Foundation will donate $25,000 to a charity of Baker’s choice - a fitting gesture for a player who’s always looked to give back, both on and off the field.
He beat out a group of worthy finalists, including Lavonte David, Demario Davis, Brian O’Neill, DeForest Buckner, Harrison Phillips, Zach Sieler, and Kyle Van Noy - all of whom embody the spirit of the award in their own right. But this year, it was Baker’s name called. And it couldn’t have gone to a more deserving player.
In a league where intensity often walks a fine line with aggression, Budda Baker continues to show that you can play with fire and still lead with class. That’s what sportsmanship looks like in today’s NFL - and that’s what makes Baker’s recognition so meaningful.