Report: Calais Campbell signing with Miami Dolphins for 17th NFL season

Veteran DL Calais Campbell is signing with the Miami Dolphins for his 17th NFL season in 2024-25, according to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Campbell, 38, played for the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal last season after spending the previous three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was on the Ravens coaching staff for a pair of seasons while Campbell was on the roster.

During his lone season with the Falcons this past season, he was healthy for the entire season, playing all 17 games for Atlanta during the regular season. The last time he did that was in 2019 when he played the full 16-game season for the Jaguars, something he did every year since 2014 to that point.

He finished the 2023-24 season with 56 total tackles (32 solo), 6.5 sacks — the most for him since 2019 — a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

While this is his first stint with the Dolphins, it isn’t the first time he’ll be representing Miami. He played three seasons for the Hurricanes in college from 2005-07 before making the jump to the NFL. Campbell was selected No. 50 overall in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Cardinals. He’s earned six Pro Bowl selections since then and earned three All-Pro awards.

Now back in the Sunshine State, Campbell will be joining a defensive line group that includs Shaquil Barrett, Da’Shawn Hand, Zach Sieler and Teair Tart. Incoming rookie Chop Robinson is also a name many are excited to see flourish with the Dolphins.

After both Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips ended their seasons prematurely with injuries in 2023, there is some concern that they may be unavailable by the time the season opener rolls around. Adding a veteran presence like Campbell provides an immediate boost to the DL room on and off the field.

The Dolphins finished 11-6 in the regular season after Miami boasted one of the flashiest offenses in the NFL. But with critical injuries to several defenders and offensive linemen, Miami struggled against Kansas City in the opening round of the playoffs.

Miami’s offense finished top five in total points, yards and completion percentage one year ago, and many feel like they’ve tightened things up on defense as well. Fans will hope this is a recipe for success enters year three under Mike McDaniel.