Calais Campbell is back with the Arizona Cardinals.
Nearly twenty years after drafting him, the Cardinals signed the veteran defensive lineman at the start of April to a one-year deal. With him closing in on 40, this is a way for Calias to give his career a storybook ending, retiring in the jersey of the team that first took a chance on him.
But Campbell isn’t done telling his story. He’s got plenty to say—especially to the slate of young defensive players the Cardinals picked up in the offseason.
Calais Campbell is happy to be a ‘mentor’ to young Cardinals players
While talking with reporters at the recent Cardinals minicamp, Campbell says he’s fitting into the mentor role with the team.
“Year 18. You got a lot of knowledge," he said, per 12News. "People want to come to you for [advice], so you’re naturally a mentor, whether you want to be or not. How good of a mentor you want to be is based on how much time you want to give the kids.”
“—or, the younger players,” Campbell said, correcting himself. “Sometimes, it feels that way. Talking to some of these guys [who are] 22. Walter Nolen is closer to my oldest son’s age, which is crazy.”
He had some early praise for Nolen. “You can tell. He’s here for a reason!” said the veteran. Nolen has exceptional “lateral quickness,” according to Calais. “I was just telling him today, that’s one of the best parts of my game as well, is my ability to go down the line really fast.
“He has unbelievable lateral quickness,” he added. “His quickness is on a different level. And he has good instincts."
Campbell also spoke highly about undrafted rookie Elijah Simmons “getting a lot of reps” with the starters and the veterans. Campbell encouraged Simmons to “take advantage” of this rare opportunity to make an impression. “And obviously, he’s a big, strong guy. One of the bigger, stronger guys you can be. He’s a BIG BOY. But he works hard.”
As for Darius Robinson, whom the Cardinals drafted in 2024? Campbell says the EDGE is a guy “who loves football. Just a little bit, he reminds me of myself…a happy-go-lucky kid. He’s just a guy who comes into the building with great energy and is just happy to be here."
“This Team Is Special”
The Arizona Cardinals picked Campbell as the 50th overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, and he hit the ground running. The Cardinals had their most successful season in memory, going all the way to Super Bowl XLIII. Campbell finished his rookie year with 28 combined tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
From there, he stayed with the Cardinals through a constantly shifting cast of defense coordinators until he entered free agency in 2017. He signed a four-year deal with the Jaguars, who eventually traded him to the Ravens in 2020. After a few seasons in Baltimore, the Ravens released Campbell. Following a year with the Atlanta Falcons, he signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Cardinals.
At age 38, Campbell is in the backend of his career, and he’s making sure he doesn’t end his run without passing on his knowledge to the new generation.
“I feel like it's no point for me to die with all this knowledge, you know, go to the graveyard or end my career with all this knowledge,” he said to reporters at the mini-camp.
“I have to share it with as many people as possible. Especially people that are going to help us win ball games. I’m gonna help the young guys as much as possible. And if I help them get to a level where they’re better than me, then the team is better, and I’ll find my role and make it work.”
“At this point in time in my career, this is the best leader I've ever been,” he added. “This is the best teammate I've ever been, as far as being a mentor. Now, hopefully, I can still play football at a high enough level where it all comes together.”
And he hopes it all comes together with another Super Bowl appearance. And Campbell thinks the Cardinals can do it.
“This team is special,” he concluded. “I believe it has all the tools to make a run.”