Calais Malik Campbell ( ;Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens; NFL Week 16; Saturday, December 24, 2022; 1:00 PM ET; M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved December 24, 2022. born September 1, 1986) is an American professional football defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft.
Early life Campbell played his high school football at South High School in Denver, Colorado. Widely regarded as one of the nation's top defensive end prospects, he was ranked as the tenth-best strongside defensive end by Rivals.com and the seventh-best defensive end by Scout.com. He amassed a state-record total of 57 sacks in his career at South High School.
In addition to football, Campbell also starred on the school's basketball team; averaging 22.7 points (fourth best in Colorado), 16.0 rebounds per game (led the state) and 3.3 blocks per game, he was an All-State basketball selection as a junior. Campbell also competed in track and field at South, qualifying for the state meet in the discus and shot put in 2003. His track and field personal bests: in the long jump, in the shot put, in the discus and in the triple jump.
Campbell chose Miami over Colorado State, Nebraska, Louisiana State, Michigan, Oklahoma, and San Diego State.
College career After redshirting his first season in 2004, Campbell became a starter at Miami in the 2005 season. In 11 games, he recorded 24 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and three passes defensed. In the 2006 season, he had 55 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and three forced fumbles. He recorded at least three sacks in a single game on three occasions in the 2006 season. In his final season with the Hurricanes in 2007, he had 50 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and one interception, which came against Marshall in the season opener.
Professional career
Arizona Cardinals (first stint)
2008 The Arizona Cardinals selected Campbell in the second round (50th overall) of the 2008 NFL draft. Campbell was the sixth defensive end drafted in 2008. The Cardinals had no immediate need for a starting-caliber defensive end, but chose to make a value pick and draft Campbell after he unexpectedly fell out of the first round and was considered the top player available at the time of their selection.
On July 24, 2008, the Cardinals signed Campbell to a four-year, $3.40 million contract with $1.68 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $484,500.
Campbell entered training camp slated as a backup defensive end and competed against Bryan Robinson and fellow rookie Kenny Iwebema for a spot in the rotation. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt officially named Campbell a backup defensive end to start the regular season, behind veterans Darnell Dockett and Antonio Smith.
Campbell made his professional regular season debut in the Cardinals' season-opener at the San Francisco 49ers and assisted on a tackle in their 23–13 victory. The following week, Campbell collected a season-high four solo tackles in the Cardinals' 31–10 victory against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. During Week 16, Campbell tied his season-high of four solo tackles during a 47–7 loss at the New England Patriots.
Campbell completed his rookie season with 28 combined tackles (23 solo), a pass defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 16 games and zero starts.
The Cardinals finished atop the NFC West with a 9–7 record and qualified for a playoff berth in 2008. On January 3, 2009, Campbell appeared in his first NFL playoff game and made two combined tackles during a 30–24 victory against the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football Conference (NFC) Wild Card Round. The Cardinals reached Super Bowl XLIII after defeating the Carolina Panthers 33–13 in the NFC Divisional Round and defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 32–25 in the NFC Championship. On February 1, 2009, Campbell appeared in Super Bowl XLIII and recorded two combined tackles as the Cardinals lost 27–23 in a closely contested match that was decided by with 0:35 remaining in the game. Campbell finished the playoffs with eight combined tackles (seven solo) and a pass deflection.
2009 On February 9, 2009, head coach Ken Whisenhunt fired defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast due to the defense's inability to hold onto a 23–20 lead in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII. Campbell entered training camp slated as a starting defensive end after Antonio Smith departed for the Houston Texans during free agency. Defensive coordinator Billy Davis opted to switch from a base 4–3 defense to a base 3–4 defense. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt named Campbell the starting left defensive end, opposite Darnell Dockett and alongside nose tackle Bryan Robinson, to begin the regular season.
Campbell made his first career start in the Cardinals' season-opener against the 49ers and recorded a season-high six solo tackles and deflected a pass in their 20–16 loss. The following week, Campbell made a tackle, broke up a pass, and was credited with half a sack during a 31–17 victory at the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2. His first career sack was with teammate Adrian Wilson, as the two brought down quarterback David Garrard in the fourth quarter. On October 18, 2009, Campbell recorded three combined tackles and a season-high 1.5 sacks during a 27–3 win at the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6. He sacked quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for a seven-yard loss in the third quarter to mark the first solo sack of his career. In Week 8, he collected a season-high seven combined tackles (six solo) in the Cardinals' 34–21 loss to the Panthers. Campbell finished the 2009 season with a total of 45 combined tackles (37 solo), seven sacks, five passes defensed, and a forced fumble in 16 games and 15 starts.
The Cardinals finished atop the NFC West with a 10–6 record and defeated the Green Bay Packers in overtime 51–45 during the NFC Wild Card Round. On January 16, 2010, Campbell started his first career playoff game and made three solo tackles in a 45–14 loss at the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Round.
2010 Head coach Ken Whisenhunt chose to retain Campbell and Darnell Dockett as the starting defensive ends to begin the regular season, along with nose tackle Bryan Robinson.
Campbell was sidelined during the Cardinals' Week 12 loss to the 49ers after injuring his ankle the previous week. On November 29, 2010, Campbell recorded a season-high 11 combined tackles (nine solo) and sacked quarterback Jimmy Clausen during a 19–12 loss at the Panthers in Week 15. The following week, he made two solo tackles and a sack in the Cardinals' 27–26 win against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. It marked his second consecutive game with a sack and his sixth sack of the season. Campbell finished the season with 60 combined tackles (46 solo), six sacks, and two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in 15 games and 15 starts.
2011 On January 6, 2011, head coach Ken Whisenhunt announced the firing of defensive coordinator Billy Davis after the Cardinals finished with a 5–11 record and allowed the third most points in the league in 2010. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt hired Pittsburgh Steelers' secondary coach, Ray Horton, as the Cardinals new defensive coordinator. Horton employed a base 3-4 defense that utilized multiple fronts. Horton retained Campbell and Darnell Dockett as the starting defensive ends to start the season, along with nose tackle Dan Williams.
On September 25, 2011, Campbell made a season-high ten combined tackles (five solo) and was credited with a season-high 2.5 sacks on quarterback Tarvaris Jackson during a 13–10 loss at the Seahawks in Week 3. In Week 9, he collected six solo tackles and made two sacks on quarterback Sam Bradford in the Cardinals' 19–13 win against the St. Louis Rams. The following week, he made two solo tackles, two pass deflections, and made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback Michael Vick in the third quarter of a 21–17 victory at the Eagles in Week 10. He finished the season with a career-high 72 combined tackles (53 solo), ten pass deflections, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.
He also appeared on special teams and blocked three field goals during the season. Campbell predominantly lined up in the five-technique in his first season under Ray Horton.
2012 On March 2, 2012, the Cardinals placed their non-exclusive franchise tag to Campbell for the 2012 season. On May 10, 2012, the Cardinals signed Campbell to a five-year, $55 million contract with $31 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $15 million.
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt retained Campbell, Darnell Dockett, and nose tackle Dan Williams as the starting defensive linemen to begin the regular season. On September 16, 2012, Campbell collected a season-high ten combined tackles (seven solo) and recorded two sacks on quarterback Tom Brady in a 20–18 win at the Patriots in Week 2. Campbell was inactive for three games (Weeks 11–13) due to an injury to his right calf. In Week 16, he collected eight combined tackles, deflected a pass, and recorded a sack during a 28–13 loss to the Chicago Bears. The following week, Campbell made two solo tackles and a sack in the Cardinals' 27–13 loss at the 49ers in Week 17. Campbell completed the 2012 season with 65 combined tackles (50 solo), 6.5 sacks, and six pass deflections in 13 games and 12 starts.
2013
On January 8, 2013, the Cardinals fired general manager Rod Graves and head coach Ken Whisenhunt after the team finished last in their division with a 5–11 record in 2012. On January 18, 2013, it was reported that defensive coordinator Ray Horton demanded his release after Bruce Arians was hired as the new head coach instead of Horton. Head coach Bruce Arians officially named Campbell and Darnell Dockett the starting defensive ends to begin the 2013 season.
On October 6, 2013, Campbell recorded four solo tackles, two sacks, and earned his first career safety during a 22–6 victory against the Panthers in Week 4. He sacked quarterback Cam Newton for a five-yard loss in the end zone to record a safety in the third quarter. In Week 7, he collected a season-high eight combined tackles in a 34–22 loss to the Seahawks. On December 22, 2013, Campbell recorded four combined tackles and sacked quarterback Russell Wilson twice to tie his season-high during a 17–10 win at the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16. Campbell started all 16 games in 2013 and recorded 58 combined tackles (45 solo), nine sacks, six passes defended, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and a safety. The Cardinals' new defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles, retained the base 3-4 defense, but also used multiple fronts with an emphasis on blitzing. Campbell was continually used as a defensive end and also lined up at defensive tackle in the three-technique for 8.4% of his defensive snaps.
2014 Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles retained Campbell as the starting left defensive end to start the regular season, alongside nose tackle Dan Williams and right defensive end Frostee Rucker.