Arizona nurse surprised by Cardinals’ Budda Baker in Super Bowl video

One Arizona nurse and Cardinals fan got the surprise of her life when All-Pro safety Budda Baker dropped in during a virtual interview.

As part of its Super Bowl coverage, CBS interviewed essential workers in various professions around the country and surprised them via Zoom with current and former NFL stars to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic.

This NFL season wouldn’t be possible without essential workers.

So NFL players past and present surprised essential superfans to show their appreciation. pic.twitter.com/gYN427Saqz

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) February 4, 2021

Haley Bowser, a cardiac telemetry nurse at Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, has been on the frontlines with coronavirus patients since her unit transitioned to begin caring for them.

“We were the first unit to transition over into taking care of those patients,” Bowser said in the video interview. “When we transitioned to solely COVID, it was definitely a big learning curve.”

Baker soon jumped on the call to thank Bowser for the work she and all frontline workers have done to aid Arizonans during the crisis.

“I just wanted to thank you and appreciate all the things that you’ve done during this pandemic,” he said. “You guys are the true heroes.”

A Chandler, Ariz., native and Chandler High School graduate, Bowser’s love of sports started in childhood when she would watch football with her dad.

Since then, Bowser says she has continually seen the generosity of the Cardinals grow in the community.

“Their support for the local high schools has been fantastic and growing. … We had a lot of people donating stuff to the nurses at Mercy Gilbert, and actually, [former Cardinals kicker] Jay Feely was somebody who helped donate meals,” Bowser said.

“It’s just a bunch of different little things that they’ve been doing that has been amazing to see.”

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