Calais Campbell Signs With Falcons Over Jaguars

The former Jaguars Pro Bowl will spend his likely final NFL season with the Falcons instead of the Jaguars.

Calais Campbell won't be returning to Jacksonville after all.

The former Jaguars Pro Bowler took a visit with the Jaguars last week and, by all accounts this week at the NFL's annual owners meetings, the visit was a positive one. But on Wednesday, Campbell officially picked the Falcons over a reunion in Jacksonville.

Prior to reaching his decision, Calais Campbell had a 40-minute phone call with owner Arthur Blank and the two discussed leadership, charitable efforts, and how Campbell thrives in the community. That non-football call helped seal it. https://t.co/z5tHAF5vdy

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 29, 2023

Campbell has spent the last three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens after the Jaguars traded him for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 offseason.

Campbell, who turns 37 on Sept. 1, was released by the Ravens this offseason and would not count against the team's compensatory picks for 2024.

Campbell appeared in 41 regular season games for the Ravens over the last three seasons, recording 14 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, nine pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. This included 5.5 sacks in 2022.

The veteran 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.

"It was a great visit with Calais," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said this week,

"He's obviously spent three years in Jacksonville and helped get them to the AFC Championship Game. Guys like that, you cannot pass up on an opportunity to at least bring him in and talk to him."