Calais Campbell Reveals Reason For Signing With Falcons Over the Jaguars

It now makes more sense why the former Jacksonville Jaguars didn't sign a second deal with the team this offseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to face old friend Calais Campbell on Sunday when the Jaguars take on the Atlanta Falcons in London. 

It won't be the first time the Jaguars have played Campbell since trading away the former Mayor of Sacksonville to the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. But it will be the first time the Jaguars and Campbell face off since the Pro Bowl defensive lineman took a visit with them this offseason and considered joining the franchise for a second time.

Despite the mutual interest, Campbell instead signed with the Falcons and is one of the primary faces on their new-look defense. And in a piece on GoLongTD.com by Ty Dunne, Campbell details why the Jaguars weren't his destination for another chance to chase a ring.

When Calais Campbell visited the Falcons, he had one concern: The QB. Arthur Smith told him how Desmond Ridder was wired & he was all in. (Even as Aaron Rodgers texted away.)

“I could just see in their eyes that they believed.” Icymi: https://t.co/htli7Yhunz

— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) September 29, 2023

In short, it had to do with role. Campbell told Dunne that Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke told him he would play a "secondary role" on the line, and Campbell believed he could do more in 2023.

"A reunion with the Jaguars was briefly possible. One of his D-Line coaches in Arizona is now the D-Line coach in Jacksonville — Brentson Buckner told Campbell he was exactly what the Jags needed. What a storybook opportunity this was to face those ‘17 demons head-on. To return to his third-and-18 playoff moment and stay on the field. Yet, Campbell didn’t get the sense that GM Trent Baalke really wanted him. He appreciated Baalke’s honesty — the last thing any NFL player wants is a bait-and-switch — but the GM told Campbell straight-up that he’d play a secondary role on this young D-Line. Serve as more of a vocal leader. Campbell knew he had more to give."

While the Jaguars have recorded just five sacks in three games and have struggled to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks -- including zero sacks vs. a rookie quarterback and a banged-up offensive line in Week 3 -- Baalke's stance here does make sense.

Campbell, who has played edge rusher for the Falcons and has spent just six snaps along the interior line, has generated five pressures, per Pro Football Focus, and has a pass-rush win-rate of 9.2%. Each of those figures would rank fourth on the Jaguars' defense behind Josh Allen, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Travon Walker.

Campbell was one of the Jaguars' major free-agent acquisitions in 2017, with the defensive lineman immediately became a key piece of the defense and helped lead Jacksonville to the team's AFC Championship game in his first season. His 14.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2017 earned him a Pro Bowl bid and a first-team All-Pro honor.

Campbell made the Pro Bowl in every season he played in Jacksonville, totaling 31.5 sacks, 44 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles. In 2019, Campbell recorded 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

After three years in Jacksonville, Campbell left the Jaguars as one of the most productive players in franchise history. In 48 career regular season games with them, his 31.5 sacks are the fourth-most in team history, a major feat considering his short tenure.