The Atlanta Falcons shocked many a year ago when they signed veteran defensive end Calais Campbell in free agency.
Campbell, 37, picked the Falcons over several more established contenders because he liked how Atlanta was growing. But Campbell only signed a one-year contract, which begs the question ... will he be back?
"In his 16th season in the NFL, Campbell tied for the team lead in sacks with 6 1/2, his highest total since the 2019 season," The Athletic writes. "That helped him surpass the 100-sack mark for his career. He now has 105 1/2. After signing a one-year free-agency deal, Campbell started all 17 games and contributed to a significant turnaround in the Falcons’ defensive fortunes. He finished the season playing at a high level and said he would like to play at least another year in the league if the circumstances are right. His chances of returning to Atlanta went down with defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s move to Jacksonville after the season."
Nielsen's departure to Jacksonville makes Campbell a candidate to return to the Jaguars, where he played from 2017-19. That being said, another season in Atlanta isn't out of the question.
“The last time I talked to Terry [Fontenot], he told me to let him know when I know,” Campbell said via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He was definitely eager to get me back if I want to play football again, but he was going to respect my process and let me go through it the way I go through it.”
NFL free agency begins on March 13.
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