Will the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year choose to retire after 17 seasons in the NFL?
The Miami Dolphins waited until June before signing defensive tackle Calais Campbell, but the 38-year-old six-time Pro Bowler quickly became one of the franchise’s top offseason additions. He was third on the team in sacks (5) and passes defended (5) while playing all 17 games of his 17th season in the NFL.
“What he added to this organization in this year was incredible,” general manager Chris Grier said Tuesday. “An incredible human being, just his longevity and what he’s been able to do as a player at his age for this long is almost unheard of.
“Every day how he approaches it, his professionalism, it’s just hard to put into words unless you’re around him. He’s got an infectious personality, he loves ball. He loves his teammates. He wants to invest in players and teach them and pass on the knowledge.”
A soon-to-be Hall of Famer, 2024 marked Campbell’s third straight season with at least five sacks, and his five passes defended is the most since 2020. A consistent force inside, he began the year with three tackles and a sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars and closed it with the same stat line against the New York Jets.
“I tried to play this game as if it was my last,” Campbell said Sunday. “I tried to leave it all out there, which is crazy because obviously we didn’t play [well] and [to] have something going on just was, I surprised myself that I was able to go out there and still be effective. A little bumpy a couple of times but nothing too bad. I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s going to be my last game. I know that it was fun to go out there and compete.”
It’s only right that Campbell takes all the time before choosing his next move. If he decides to run it back with Miami, a key will be waiting under the doormat.
“I don’t want to speak for him, but he’s indicated that if he does decide to play that he loved his time here and we would be a very strong consideration to come back if he decides to play again, and we would welcome him back with open arms,” Grier said.
