The Arizona Cardinals are bringing back a veteran defensive lineman, one that probably never got away.
The team has agreed to a one-year contract with Calais Campbell.
From the team:
Campbell (6-8, 307) returns to Arizona where he began his career as a second-round selection (50th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami. He played his first nine seasons (2008-16) in the league with the Cardinals and was a rookie on Arizona’s Super Bowl XLIII team. He spent the past eight seasons with the Jaguars (2017-19), Ravens (2020-22), Falcons (2023) and Dolphins (2024).
The 38-year old Campbell started all 17 games at defensive tackle with the Dolphins last season and totaled 52 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, five passes defensed and a forced fumble. He started all 17 games for the Falcons in 2023 and had 56 tackles, 6.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Below are some highlights from Campbell’s 17-year NFL career:
A six-time Pro Bowl (2014-15; 2017-20) selection, Campbell was named to the NFL All-Decade Team of the 2010s by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was named first-team All-Pro as a defensive end and second-team All-Pro as a defensive tackle in 2017 and has been selected as a team captain five times in his career (2014-15, 2018-19, 2024).
He has won numerous community and off the field awards during his career, including the 2019 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year, the 2023 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award, the 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award and the 2019 Bart Starr Award. He was the Cardinals Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee in 2011.
In his 17 NFL seasons (2008-2024), Campbell has appeared in 261 games (242 starts) during the regular season with 908 tackles (643 solo), 110.5 sacks, 266 quarterback hits, 187 tackles for loss, 63 passes defensed, 18 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries (three returned for TDs), three interceptions and nine blocked field goals. He has also appeared in 15 postseason contests (10 starts) and totaled 35 tackles, nine quarterback hits and three passes defensed.
His 242 career starts are the most among active NFL players and his 261 career games played are the second-most among active players (TE Marcedes Lewis-285).
Campbell’s 110.5 sacks are third-most among active NFL players behind only Von Miller (129.5) and Cameron Jordan (121.5) while his 266 quarterback hits and 187 tackles for loss lead all active players. Campbell’s 908 career tackles easily lead all active NFL defensive linemen.
In his initial nine-year run with the Cardinals (2008-16), Campbell played 138 games (120 starts) during the regular season and totaled 501 tackles, 56.5 sacks, 124 QB hits, 107 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD), three interceptions and 42 passes defensed.
Campbell’s 56.5 sacks with the Cardinals rank third on the franchise all-time list behind only Chandler Jones (71.5) and Freddie Joe Nunn (66.5).
With the Cardinals from 2009-14, Campbell established a franchise record with six consecutive seasons of at least 50 tackles and 6.0 sacks. He remains the only defensive lineman in franchise history to record at least 6.0 sacks in seven different seasons.
Campbell (63) joins Saints DE Cameron Jordan (65) as the only active defensive linemen with 60+ career passes defensed. His nine blocked FG attempts lead all active players and are tied for the third-most in the NFL dating back to the 1970 merger.
He has played at least 16 games in a season 11 times in his career and has never played fewer than 12 games during any season.
Between 2009-19, Campbell had at least 40 tackles and 5.0 sacks in 11 consecutive seasons. The 2024 season marked the 14th time in his career – and third straight year – posting at least 5.0 sacks in a season.
He has recorded double-digit quarterback hits in 15 seasons, including in each of the last 14 years. Campbell has also posted 10+ tackles for loss in a season 12 times in his career.
Welcome back, Calais!