Cardinals Campbell’s love for the game keeps his motivation high for 2025 season

Campbell on why he returned to the Cardinals:

I love this with all my heart. I still feel like I can produce and be a good player. With my love of the game and the ability to still go out there and make an impact, it’s like why walk away? This year was like, ‘Do you really want to do this?’ And I had to ask myself a couple of times,” Campbell said. “I still love it enough it to where I’m willing to pay the price.”

The mortality of his player career weighed heavy on Campbell’s mind, which likely led to his decision to rejoin Arizona this past offseason. The former Cardinals 2nd-round pick in 2008 spent nine season with the franchise and racked up two Pro-Bowl selections. Afterwards, Campbell signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, earning his lone first-team All-Pro selection and was runner-up in defensive player of the year in 2017.

As the years progress since those days, Campbell’s athletic ability deteriorates. Regardless, his production level has faltered, as Campbell recorded five sacks and 52 tackles in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins. The Denver native credited former Pittsburgh Steelers great James Harrison in his interview with Burns and Gambo on how he’s still able to produce this late in his career.

Now, in the twilight of his career, Campbell has an opportunity to give back to the team that drafted by forming the next generation of Cardinals defensive tackle. Arizona drafted Walter Nolen in the first-round and could be poetic passing of the torch between him and Campbell on being the face of the franchise interior defensive line force for the next decade.