Budda Baker, a former Husky and Washington native, was named to his eighth career Pro Bowl on Tuesday.
The Washington Huskies football team has produced several notable NFL players over the last several seasons. One of the most consistent in the NFL over the last decade added another accolade to an expansive resume.
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On Tuesday, former Washington and current Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker was named a Pro Bowler.
Baker was a Bellevue, Wash., native and committed to the Huskies ahead of the 2014 season as a four-star recruit and the top-ranked high schooler in Washington, according to 247Sports.
Baker played with Washington from 2014-16 and started all 14 games of his true freshman season and was named a Freshman All-American.
In Baker's following two seasons in 2016-17, he was first-team All-Pac-12 and was a consensus All-American in 2016. He was one of the team's best players in '16, when the Huskies made their first-ever College Football Playoff under the old four-team tournament format.
Baker entered the 2017 NFL Draft after his junior season. He finished his collegiate career with 199 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, five interceptions, 18 passes defended and three forced fumbles.
Baker was selected in the second round of the '17 NFL Draft by the Cardinals, where he's spent his entire professional career since.
In nine seasons in Arizona, Baker is a two-time first-team All-Pro, two-time second-team All-Pro, was named to the All-Rookie team by the Pro Football Writers of America and has made eight Pro Bowls.
Baker has made the Pro Bowl every season except for one (2018) in his career and has made it for seven-straight seasons from 2019-25.
Baker has been one of the best safeties in the NFL since he was drafted. He signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Cardinals before the 2024 season. That was Baker's third professional contract of his career. He signed a four-year, $59 million deal ahead of the 2020 season. Baker's current deal with have him in Arizona through the 2027 season.
In his career, Baker has played in 122 games (made 112 starts). As of Dec. 24, he has 1,012 career tackles, 10 sacks, seven forced fumbles (six recoveries), 44 pass deflections and eight interceptions. He led the NFL with 104 solo tackles in 2019. He's played at least 17 games in seven-of-nine seasons.
As of Dec. 24 the Cardinals, which play in the NFC West alongside Baker's native Seattle Seahawks, are fourth in the division with a 3-12 record. Baker's made the playoffs once with Arizona in 2021.
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