Calais Campbell’s return to Cardinals tastes ever so “M’m! M’m! Good!”

Calais Campbell’s 18-year NFL odyssey comes to fruition

Back in 2008 when the Arizona Cardinals drafted Calais Campbell in the 2nd round at pick #50, they essentially acquired the prototypical epitome of a 34 defensive end. Coming out of the University of Miami at 6’8”, 290 pounds, 35 3/4” arms, posting a 5.0 40. 1.72 10-yard split, 7.19 3-cone and 34.” vertical after garnering 129 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks during his three years as an 1st Team ACC All-Star, Calais Campbell was an utter force to be reckoned with.

During the Cardinals’ 2008 run to its first and only Super Bowl, Calais, as a rookie, backed up Darnell Dockett and Antonio Smith. He played his best football down the stretch during the Cardinals’ exciting playoff run, popping for 7 solo tackles, 1 assist and a pass deflection.

Heave a gander at Calais Campbell’s career stints and highlights: (per Wikipedia)

Calais Campbell – Wikipedia

• Arizona Cardinals (2008–2016)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (2017–2019)
• Baltimore Ravens (2020–2022)
• Atlanta Falcons (2023)
• Miami Dolphins (2024)
• Arizona Cardinals (2025–present)

Jaguars franchise records

• Most sacks in a game (4)

Career highlights and awards

• Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2019)
• PFWA NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2017)
• First-team All-Pro (2017)
• 2× Second-team All-Pro (2014, 2016)
• 6× Pro Bowl (2014, 2015, 2017–2020)
• NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
• NFLPA Alan Page Community Award (2024)^[143]
• Art Rooney Award (2022)^[144]
• Bart Starr Award (2019)^[145]
• 3× AFC Defensive Player of the Week: (2017-Week 1), (2019-Week 3), (2020-Week 6)^[146]
• First-team All-ACC (2006)

NFL Career Statistics (regular season):

• Games —- 261
• Tackles —- 917 combined (651 solo)
• Sacks —- 110.5
• Pass Deflections —- 63
• Interceptions —- 3
• Forced Fumbles —- 18
• Fumble Recoveries —- 13
• Safeties —- 3
• Touchdowns —- 3

Postseason:

• Games —- 15
• Tackles —- 38 (21 solo)
• Sacks —- 0
• Pass Deflections —- 3

PFF Overall Grades (last 10 years):

• 2014 —-ARI —- 82.5
• 2015 —- ARI —- 84.0
• 2016 —- ARI —- 91.2
• 2017 —- JAC —- 91.0
• 2018 —- JAC —- 90.9
• 2019 —- JAC —-90.3
• 2020 —- BAL —-74.7
• 2021 —- BAL —- 80.8
• 2022 —- BAL —- 76.9
• 2023 —- ATL —- 80.3
• 2024 —- MIA —- 82.3

Commentary:

Earlier in the week I was reading a tweet that said Calais Campbell was mulling over offers from the Dolphins and Falcons amidst the question as to whether it was, after 17 NFL seasons, a good time to retire. After reading the tweet I mistakenly thought, “don’t get your hopes up that Calais would return to the Cardinals.”

Then when I saw this tweet about the salary agreement, I was flabbergasted. Not only that the Cardinals were able to win his services, but that they were able to do so at such a bargain salary.

Compensation:

Furthermore, to see Calais’ sheer joy about returning to the Cardinals made me leap for joy!

Calais’ Excitement:

My Excitement:

Conclusion:

I believe that signing Calais Campbell can have a JJ Watt type of ripple effect on the organization. He and the Cardinals, as was the case with JJ Watt, have one thing very much in common —- they have not won a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.. (Can’t say it, not going to dare to jinx it).

The Cardinals, with the coup of signing Calais Campbell and all of the buzz that comes with it, just took a giant step forward toward meeting their highest 2025 aspirations. This signing, imo, elevated Monti Ossenfort’s cooking from simmering to a full boil. Keep cranking up the temperature, Monti!

Suz’s Excitement:

Rise Up Red Sea, indeed!

Man, having Calais Campbell back in Arizona tastes ever so “M’m! M’m! Good!”

Hooray for the nostalgia!