Calais Campbell announces decision on NFL future on Monday

Sorry Steelers fans, Calais Campbell will be terrorizing your offensive line for at least one more season, the Baltimore Ravens defensive linemen revealed Monday.

“Oh yeah, I’m not retiring,” Campbell told Sky Sports, via the Ravens’ team web site, after the Los Angeles Rams’ 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. “I watched this game. The feeling I have right now after seeing them celebrate a Super Bowl championship, I have a desire to go out there and play football and to compete. So I’m definitely not retiring; I’m coming back.”

Campbell’s contract is expiring, which means he is set to become an unrestricted free agent this spring. Would the Ravens have interest in bringing back a continuously productive 35-year-old leader and consummate leader. Campbell made 49 tackles with 1.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits last year while starting 14 games. The 14-year veteran who doubles as a six-time Pro Bowler is considered a foundation in regard to locker-room presence, and his decision to play on gives Baltimore at least a chance to sign him once again.

Campbell is 6.5 sacks away from the 100th of his career. If he were to surpass that accolade, he would be the 40th NFL player in history to clear that benchmark. While the goal is certainly within reach, Campbell himself brought up the fact that 2021 might be his last NFL season when he touched on the retirement topic last summer.

“That’s something I’m still figuring out, I guess,” Campbell said in June. “I kind of take it one year at a time. I know that I’ve got this year in me for sure. I’m going to give what I have this year, and then we’ll reevaluate once the season ends.”

The 6-foot-8, 300-pound Campbell isn’t the pass rusher he once was, but he remains a perennial run-stopper. Pro Football Focus ranked him asa a top 10 defensive tackle in the league in 2021. He also drew the highest PFF grade of any Baltimore defender all last season. While Campbell officially has at least one more year left in him, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta seems to be leaning on the side of retaining Campbell if he’s willing to stick around with a new contract.

“I really admire Calais as a leader, as a player,” DeCosta said, per the Ravens website. “He still plays at a high level and has a great attitude. He’s great for the younger guys.”