Defensive tackle Calais Campbell, the 38-year-old free agent who had a standout season for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, is returning to Arizona, the team that drafted him, on a one-year, $5.5 million deal that has the potential to max out at $7.5 million, according to an ESPN report.
The Cardinals later announced the signing Tuesday evening.
Campbell, the six-time Pro Bowl selection who attended the University of Miami, was one of the Dolphins’ best and most inspirational players last season.
Campbell, who is entering the 18th season of a possible Hall of Fame career, finished with 52 tackles last season, seventh on the Dolphins, and 5.0 sacks, which was tied for third.
Campbell teamed with fellow defensive tackle Zach Sieler (55 tackles, 10 sacks) to give the Dolphins a scary defensive duo.
Coach Mike McDaniel was asked about Campbell on Monday at the NFL owners meetings.
“Calais, specifically, is in a unique situation where he’s assessing multiple options as a player in the 45th year of his career,” McDaniel quipped. “There’s a lot in play in that, in regard to, your play is high, you’re excited to play another year.
“He’s assessing those options, and he was a very important player to the team last year. I see him having the opportunity to be a very important player on the team this year.”
Campbell assumed an immediate leadership role on the Dolphins, being voted a team captain in September after only joining the team in June.
Campbell and veteran left tackle Terron Armstead, who is still deciding whether he’ll return or retire, were viewed as the senior leaders on a team that seemed to need such guidance.
Campbell, who had 12 tackles for loss and five passes defended, often gave the pregame speech to fire up the team before they took the field.
His on-field performance was often a rallying point for players on both sides of the ball.
Campbell, a 2008 second-round pick by Arizona who has 110.5 career sacks, spent his first nine seasons with the Cardinals.
Campbell’s departure leaves a huge hole for the Dolphins at defensive tackle.
Aside from Sieler the Dolphins have little-used Matt Dickerson and relatively inexperienced Neil Farrell.
It’s assumed the Dolphins will draft a defensive tackle in the first three rounds of the draft.
Campbell, who joined the Dolphins in search of an elusive Super Bowl ring, contemplated leaving the Dolphins late last season to join a contender.
McDaniel met with Campbell and talked him into staying, convincing him the Dolphins might be able to get into the playoffs after a slow start to the season.
Before the Dolphins’ season finale against the New York Jets, Campbell said he’d entertained the thought that it could be his last NFL game.
“That definitely is going to be the thought process,” Campbell said. “I will say that I’ve felt that way before, too, so this is not my first time feeling that way.
“So it doesn’t mean I’m definitely going to retire, but you have to have that mindset, because, at the end of the day, I don’t know. And I want to make sure that, if this is my last game, I make it worthwhile.”
