Campbell has agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal worth up to $7.5 million, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday. The Cardinals announced the single-year pact, officially bringing Campbell back to the club that drafted him in 2008.
The signing also concludes discussion on whether Campbell, owner of six Pro Bowl selections and 110.5 sacks, would retire. Instead, he’s heading back west to Arizona after a single season with the Miami Dolphins.
Campbell, 38, aims to bolster a revamped pass rush for the Cards. Arizona has added defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and pass rusher Josh Sweat, while re-signing outside linebacker Baron Browning. 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson is also still a fresh face, having missed much of his rookie campaign due to injury and should also be able to learn plenty from the venerable Campbell.
Campbell is continuing on a whirlwind tour as of late, though he’s back in a familiar setting.
His career began with the Cardinals (2008-2016; two Pro Bowls) and carried on with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2017-2019; three Pro Bowls), Baltimore Ravens (2020-2022; one Pro Bowl) and Atlanta Falcons (2023) prior to last year’s last dance with the Dolphins.
Having contemplated retirement prior to previous seasons, Campbell, is likely to contemplate it again around this time next year.
For now, he’s continuing quite a career. Campbell, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team, was the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year and the 2024 NFL Players Association Alan Page Community Award winner.
Campbell has played 261 games (242 starts) and has been a model of durability, never having missed more than four games in a campaign. He’s racked up 917 tackles, 266 QB hits, 18 forced fumbles and 13 fumble recoveries.Campbell was taken in the 2008 NFL Draft’s second round by the Cardinals. His rookie campaign saw Arizona advance to the Super Bowl, a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in which Campbell recorded two tackles. Campbell went without a start or a sack as a rookie, but it was hardly a sign of things to come.
Campbell became a fixture in the Cardinals’ starting lineup over the next eight seasons, rising to become a Pro Bowl defensive end. He posted 56.5 sacks with Arizona, which ranks fourth all time for the franchise.
Now he’s returned to play under head coach Jonathan Gannon, who’s just three years older than him at 41.
Campbell is still playing stellar ball. He didn’t miss a game in either of his last two seasons, with his 2024 campaign in Miami seeing him post 52 tackles and five sacks, often proving to be the highlight of a downtrodden Dolphins D. The Dolphins were reportedly open to releasing Campbell late last season to give him an opportunity to catch on with a contender, but Miami’s postseason hopes, albeit slim, carried on until Week 18 and he stayed put in South Beach.
