Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell has been among the best players in the league at his position for what feels like forever, and has made a huge impact for the team since being traded to them from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. Entering a season that would see him turn 37 years old in September, Campbell’s future in the league is very much in question.
When asked if the prospect of securing his 100th career sack was weighing on him in his decision to come back in 2023, Campbell told reporters that it would certainly be a hard accomplishment to ignore given that he is so close.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t,” Campbell said. “I had plenty of opportunities to get it this year and didn’t get it done. So, sometimes it’s like, ‘Well, man, it wasn’t that important to you because you didn’t get it done.’ I had the guy in my arms a couple times, and just missed him. So, I guess it’s not the top of the list, but it’s something I really want. At the end of the day, what’s meant to be will be. So, I definitely felt like I left some plays out there though this year, and that kind of hurt a little bit, but that’s football.”
Time will tell if Campbell will decide to return to Baltimore next season, and he is sure to weigh all of his options over the course of the next several months. The veteran is just one sack short of the illustrious 100-sack mark, and would be all-but guaranteed to achieve the feat if he were to return to the field in 2023.