Cardinals’ Budda Baker lends a hand to local kids amid holiday season

GUADALUPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker took a break from racking up another 100-tackle season for a good cause centered around a different 100.

Joining forces with Raising Cane’s, Baker dropped by the Guadalupe Thunderbirds Boys & Girls Club on Tuesday for a bike giveaway to 100 local kids.

Spent yesterday afternoon at the Guadalupe Thunderbirds Boys & Girls Club (@bgcarizona) where @Buddabaker3 donated 100 bikes (and more) to local kids alongside @raisingcanes. 👏@starling__4 also made an appearance (and *lightly* Mossed some kids 😂).

The kids were AMPED. pic.twitter.com/siTJDONfPo

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) December 17, 2025

It’s an event that hits home for Baker, having spent a lot of his childhood at the Boys & Girls Club in Washington.

“It’s very important to me, because growing up in Section 8 homes and housing, I’ve had a lot of support from multiple families as well,” Baker said.

“Now that I’m in the position to support, I’ll do the best that I can each and every year, no matter what our record is, no matter what work life is talking about. It’s definitely cool to be here and show my support and hang out with the kids.”

It wasn’t just Baker getting in on the action, either.

Cornerback Starling Thomas, who is still rehabbing his way back from a torn ACL suffered in training camp, joined Baker in hanging out with the kids and even got some football in.

The same goes for mascot Big Red and a couple of Cardinals cheerleaders.

Aside from Baker, plenty of Cardinals players have spent time giving back to the local community, especially with the holiday season in full swing.

That includes offensive linemen Paris Johnson Jr. and Kelvin Beachum, plus Arizona’s 2025 rookie class, who passed out 250 Thanksgiving meals to local families recently.

An early downpour didn’t stop the annual @KelvinBeachumJr and @ParisJohnsonJr Thanksgiving food distribution in Mesa on Tuesday.

“Anytime we have the opportunity to donate meals, distribute meals, I always take pride in that.” ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/r3RBK43fAH

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 19, 2025

Calais Campbell, Sean Murphy-Bunting and others have also gotten into the season of giving, whether it be hosting shopping sprees or family events.

The Cardinals also hosted “Shop with a Jock” earlier this month, where kids got $1,000 and shopped with Cardinals players.

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