Budda Baker Wins Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, Cementing His Legacy as One of the NFL’s Most Respected Competitors
GLENDALE - After three consecutive years as a finalist, Budda Baker finally brought it home.
The Arizona Cardinals safety was named the 2026 recipient of the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award at the NFL Honors, a recognition that speaks volumes about the way he plays the game - with intensity, integrity, and an unwavering respect for opponents. For a player who’s built his career on flying around the field with reckless precision, this honor is a fitting testament to the balance he strikes between ferocity and fairness.
Baker becomes just the second player in Cardinals history to win the award, joining franchise legend Larry Fitzgerald, who was the award’s inaugural recipient. That’s elite company - and a reflection of the kind of leader and tone-setter Baker has become in Arizona.
Ask anyone who’s lined up across from him, and they’ll tell you the same thing: Budda Baker doesn’t take plays off. He doesn’t coast.
He doesn’t quit. And yet, he plays the game clean - a rare combination that’s earned him the admiration of teammates and opponents alike.
"One hundred and twenty percent energy on every single play, never takes a snap off," said 49ers tight end George Kittle. "And he is going to hit the heck out of you, and he is going to chase you down. When you go against guys like that, you have to be so dialed in on every single play, because on any snap he can completely change the game."
That quote says it all. Baker’s reputation is built not just on his production, but on the way he forces everyone else to raise their level. He’s the kind of player who makes Sundays harder - and better.
At 30 years old, Baker continues to be a model of consistency. He just wrapped up his sixth season with 100 or more tackles, finishing the 2025 campaign with 120 combined tackles, including 57 solo. And while he’s always been known more for his tackling and leadership than his ball-hawking, he still managed to notch his first interception since Week 15 of the 2022 season - a moment that reminded everyone he’s still got plenty left in the tank.
But perhaps the most impressive stat of all? In nearly 5,000 defensive snaps, Baker has committed fewer than a dozen penalties.
That kind of discipline, especially at a position where collisions are constant and split-second decisions are everything, is nearly unheard of. It’s a testament to his football IQ, his technique, and his respect for the game.
Now, as the Cardinals prepare for a new chapter under head coach Mike LaFleur, Baker remains the heartbeat of the defense. He’s not just a veteran presence - he’s the standard. And with this latest honor, his legacy only grows stronger.
The Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award isn't about stats or highlight reels. It's about how you play the game when no one’s watching, how you carry yourself in the trenches, and how you treat the guys on the other side of the line. Budda Baker checks every box - and then some.