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If I’m going to play, I’m going to play at a high level.” This is what defensive tackle Calais Campbell said in June 2024. He was with the Dolphins for the 2024 season and aspired to win a Super Bowl. However, the Phins ended their season at 8-9, missing out on a playoff berth. But Campbell’s courage didn’t end there. He decided to have a homecoming in the 18th year of his career, returning to where he started: the Arizona Cardinals.

Born and raised in Denver, Campbell had a dream of playing at the highest level—and the Cardinals believed in him. He was a second-round, 50th overall pick in his draft year. After playing for eight years in Arizona, he left the city in 2016 and played for four different teams. His nine-year journey away from Arizona has been nothing short of rocky. From the Jaguars and Ravens to the Falcons and Dolphins, he might have been thinking about returning to Arizona all along. Now, he has signed a new deal to return to the city where he took his first step into the big league.

But do you know what contract he signed with the Cardinals on April 1, 2025? What is his salary? Let’s dive in!

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What is Calais Campbell’s salary?

As per Adam Schefter’s Instagram post, Calais Campbell and the Cardinals agreed to a one-year deal worth $5,500,000, which will also be his salary for the 2025 season. That’s pretty great. A year ago, when he signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins, Calais didn’t even get half of that. But the star defender never complained about money; he was more concerned about his performance to secure a bigger contract in the future, and that’s exactly what happened.

 

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In the 2024 season, Calais managed 35 solo tackles while sacking the opponent’s QB five times and forced one fumble. In every other way, he helped the Dolphins perform better defensively. Now, as he returns to Arizona, the team expects him to help them get into the playoffs, a feat they haven’t achieved since the 2021 season.

His journey, so far, has been full of ups and downs. His rookie contract? 4 yr(s) / $3,479,500 with the Cardinals. But he has come far ahead of that. Do you want to know what salaries and contracts he had throughout his career? Let’s dive in to know more!

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Calais Campbell's return to Arizona: A homecoming hero or just another veteran past his prime?

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Contracts and earnings of Calais Campbell throughout his career

As mentioned earlier, he signed a $5.5 million deal with the Cardinals on April 1, 2025. But if we rewind a bit, he only received a $2 million deal with the Dolphins. That seems pretty small compared to his Arizona deal, right? Before that, Calais was also a free agent with the Falcons, signing a staggering $7 million deal before landing in Baltimore. With the Ravens, he signed a two-year contract worth $12.5 million, which was certainly worth playing for.

But before we take a look at his other contracts, do you know how much Calais Campbell has earned so far?

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According to Spotrac, Calais Campbell has earned $144,693,685 throughout his career, including his $5.5 million deal with the Cardinals. To accumulate this massive amount, his contracts with teams other than the Cardinals were crucial. In 2020 and 2021, he signed a $25 million extension with the Ravens after previously securing a four-year, $60 million deal with the Jaguars and a $55 million extension with the Cardinals. Those are impressive amounts for any defensive tackle.

Calais Campbell’s experience, expertise, and skills have helped him secure such hefty contracts. However, the job isn’t done yet—he still has to prove his worth again, this time with the Cardinals.

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