Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell returned to his former team in April, still brimming with “love” for the game entering his 18th NFL season.
Could this be his final time putting on the pads? He strongly hinted at such on Thursday at a joint practice with the Denver Broncos.
“I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t (my last season),” Campbell said.
The 6-foot-8 Campbell, who will be taking snaps for his 10th overall season with Arizona, turns 39 on Sept. 1. That’s six days before Week 1 of the regular season when the Cardinals match up with the New Orleans Saints.
With every passing season, the likelihood of Campbell’s retirement increases, but he also has hinted at stepping away from the game over the previous few years, as Cardinals senior writer Darren Urban reported.
Especially alongside a revamped defensive line that features a second-year Darius Robinson, Dalvin Tomlinson and rookie Walter Nolen III, Campbell said he had no reason to not keep scratching his playing itch for at least one more year.
“I still feel like I can produce and be a good player,” Campbell said Aug. 1 on Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke. “With my love of the game and the ability to still go out there and make an impact, it’s like why walk away?”
Campbell was clear that his return to the Valley was not just checking a box, either.
“I think (we) can make a run,” Campbell said at his re-introductory press conference in April. “There’s a lot of factors that go into that, but I believe this team can make a run.”
Calais Campbell’s career by the numbers if this is it
Campbell was selected No. 50 overall by the Cardinals in the 2008 NFL Draft.
In 261 career games (242 starts) over 17 seasons, Campbell has accumulated 651 solo tackles, 187 tackles for loss, 110.5 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
In his nine seasons with the Cardinals, Campbell has totaled 138 game appearances (120 starts), 382 solo tackles (501 total), 107 tackles for loss, 56.5 sacks, eight fumble recoveries and all three of his interceptions.
He was named First Team All-Pro in 2017 and has made six Pro Bowl teams (2014-15, ’17, 2020). Additionally, Campbell won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2019 while with the Jacksonville Jaguars.