Falcon Report

Atlanta Falcons DE Calais Campbell: Retirement Coming?

Will the Atlanta Falcons pursue a reunion with one of the NFL's oldest players in Calais Campbell?

Jeremy Brener

Dec 17, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; The officials talk to Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle
Dec 17, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; The officials talk to Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

The Atlanta Falcons went all-in this offseason for a hopeful postseason jump led by new quarterback Kirk Cousins. Meanwhile, Atlanta has one key defensive piece still out there in free agency. The question is, does it make sense to re-sign him?

Calais Campbell will be 38-years-old once the Falcons run out of the tunnel for their season opener. One of the NFL’s all-time ironmen with his incredible durability and production, Campbell’s final season could be in 2024.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass with pressure from Atlanta Falcons
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass with pressure from Atlanta Falcons / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY

"Based on his recent production and availability, Campbell could probably suit up for another two or three years, but he's played for three teams in the past five seasons. He's currently a free agent, so there's no guarantee that he'll even play in 2024," Bleacher Report writes.

"If Campbell does sign another one-year deal, he might decide to hang up his cleats after this year to avoid moving around again."

As Campbell continues to sit out on he open market waiting for interested suitors, would the Falcons be wise to pursue a reunion? In 17 starts for Atlanta, Campbell registered 6.5 sacks and 24 quarterback pressures. There’s obviously still some juice left in the tank for the giant defensive end.

However, the most likely scenario is Campbell signs another one-year deal with Atlanta or some other title-contending team. It wouldn’t hurt for Atlanta to keep around one of the NFL’s most respected voices, especially for an entirely new coaching staff taking over this offseason.

Evan Sidery also contributed to this story.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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