After 17 seasons in the NFL, defensive lineman Calais Campbell is returning to the Arizona Cardinals, the team that drafted him in 2008. Campbell, who turned 39 on Labor Day, considered retirement after last season with the Miami Dolphins but ultimately chose to continue playing after receiving interest from more than ten teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
“I was really considering shutting it down,” Campbell said of his thought process heading into what will be his 18th NFL season. He added that “coming back here just made more sense,” referring to his return to Arizona. “A team on the cusp, in position to do some things, young talented guys who need help.”
Campbell reflected on his early years with the Cardinals and acknowledged how age has changed him physically but not diminished his desire to make an impact. “My recent history, I can still dominate with the way I feel, and that’s what matters,” he said. “I still have the ability to take over and make plays. It just might not be every play like I want it to be.”
Former teammate Bertrand Berry recalled mentoring a young Campbell during their time together on Arizona’s Super Bowl team in 2008. Berry noted Campbell’s work ethic and athleticism: “He was always excited and he gets to stuttering when he gets excited. He always had that spirit about him.” Berry also remembered helping Campbell develop his skills after practice sessions.
As a rookie, Campbell played limited snaps on defense but contributed significantly on special teams. Over nine seasons with Arizona, he became known for blocking field goals—six of which came as a Cardinal—and making tackles even in high-profile games like the Super Bowl.
Campbell eventually became a key leader for Arizona’s defense by 2013 and helped guide younger players through various playoff runs under coach Bruce Arians. Recalling Arians’ coaching style, Campbell said: “I’m like, ‘Damn.’ But from that moment on, I made sure every time I played, I made my presence felt. Which is what his goal was. It made me a better player.”
Despite wanting to stay in Arizona after his initial contract ended following the 2016 season—a year he considers one of his best—Campbell moved on due to salary cap decisions by management and joined Jacksonville as a true defensive end.
His subsequent career included three Pro Bowl seasons with Jacksonville—finishing second for Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017—followed by stints with Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins.
The chance to mentor young Cardinals players such as Darius Robinson helped draw Campbell back this year: “I really believe in this team,” he said. “I didn’t want to just sign somewhere and not be able to make an impact.” Robinson described Campbell as “probably the best teammate I’ve had my whole life,” despite only working together briefly so far.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon praised Campbell’s leadership: “He is about the team… The self-preservation thing. He is not like that at all.”
While some speculate whether this will be Campbell’s final NFL season—former teammate Frostee Rucker compared him favorably with ironman Jim Marshall—Campbell himself is focused solely on contributing now: “This makes a lot of sense,” he said about returning home after nearly two decades away from Arizona football.
