For a brief moment in the 2010s, the Jacksonville Jaguars had one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL. Having the likes of defensive lineman Calais Campbell certainly helped. But then, the Jags slowly dismantled the group affectionately known as Sacksonville. The Mayor wasn't spared, which was a massive mistake. And several years later, his departure still stings, especially after his inclusion on a recent list.
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus recently drew up a list of the top 30 players in the NFL over 30 and included Campbell. pointing out that he's coming off a highly productive season despite the fact that he's 38.
At 38, Campbell continued to defy age after leaving all interior defenders with an 85.9 run-defense grade in 2024," Wasserman said. "He added 39 pressures and five sacks, showing he's far from just a run-stopper. Campbell returns to Arizona for his age-39 season, where he previously earned a career-high 91.2 PFF grade in 2016.
Earlier this offseason, Campbell became a free agent after playing for the Miami Dolphins in 2024. The year prior, he suited up for the Atlanta Falcons.
Before Campbell signed with the Falcons, though, he met with the Jaguars' brass about a potential reunion, but nothing materialized.
A second-round pick in 2008, Campbell spent his first nine NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He signed with Jacksonville in 2017 and became a staple of their defense right off the bat, posting a then-franchise record 14.5 sacks. The former Miami Hurricane wasn't able to replicate his number of sacks in the subsequent years, but was equally dominant.
Entering a contract year in 2020, Campbell wanted a salary adjustment but instead of getting a new contract, he was shipped to the Baltimore Ravens. The decision raised eyebrows because he was one of the team's best players and a fan favorite. Fast forward to 2025, and he's still highly productive, which makes the decision to cut ties with him retroactively worse.
Heck, since leaving the Jags, Campbell has accrued 22.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Not bad for a player who'll be entering his 18th season in 2025.
Calais Campbell notwithstanding, no Jaguars player made PFF's top-30 list of over 30
One close look at Pro Football Focus' list shows that no player represented the Jacksonville Jaguars, and there are different ways to look at that. On the one hand, they're undergoing a rebuild, so they don't have many veterans on the roster. Arik Armstead, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Eric Murray are 31, but none of them were deserving of making the cut.
Then again, you cannot have a team full of young players. You need those savvy veterans who help set the tone and keep the locker room together when things get tough. Fortunately, it looks like Jacksonville has the right balance ahead of 2025.
Aside from Armstead, the Jags have cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun. Both of them are the kind of "alphas" who will lead by example and make everyone accountable. Heck, it wouldn't be shocking if both of them are named team captains by their teammates. This would be Foye's fourth nod, as he's gotten the honor the past three years.
Circling back to Campbell, imagine if he had stayed with the Jaguars a few more seasons? He could've been of huge help both on and off the field. Now, he'll get to finish his NFL career where it started.