Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell said he will take some time before deciding whether to return for his 19th NFL season in 2026.
Campbell, who will be 40 by the time next season kicks off, has started every game this season heading into Sunday’s season finale against the host Los Angeles Rams. He ranks second on the team with 6.5 sacks and shares the lead with 16 quarterback hits.
“The last few years I’ve been through this process I’ve known pretty quickly that I’ve wanted to play again,” Campbell said in a story published by the team on Wednesday. “It didn’t take me that long — within a month or so, I knew I wanted to play football again. We’ll see. I hope to know quickly if I don’t want to play football again.
“The biggest thing is if I do want to play football again, I give myself the opportunities to play football again. I try to always sign my work and play at a level that they want me back. Even if I decide not to play again, I want to have the ability to say no, rather than them saying, ‘See you later.'”
Campbell, who was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round in 2008, will appear in his 278th regular-season game on Sunday. The NFL record for a defensive lineman is 282 games by Minnesota Vikings great Jim Marshall from 1960-79.
Campbell has been one of Arizona’s best players this season, recording 41 tackles and blocking two kicks. His 117 career sacks rank fourth among active players and 25th all-time.
“He shows up every day and does the right thing,” defensive coordinator Nick Rallis said. “Practices hard, studies hard, knows his assignments, and I think he’s just been a good example as the standard of what being a pro looks like. He is a very good outgoing leader who is very intentional of bringing people around with him.”
Campbell is a free agent after this season. In addition to the Cardinals (2008-16, 2025), the six-time Pro Bowl selection has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2017-19), Baltimore Ravens (2020-22), Atlanta Falcons (2023) and Miami Dolphins (2024).
He was a first-team All-Pro in 2017 and was named the 2019 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year.
“I’ve always tried to play well enough that I have a choice,” Campbell said. “I think I did well enough this year that I will have a choice. That’s a good feeling.”
