The 2019 NFL season officially came to a close for the whole league Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV after a comeback win against the San Francisco 49ers. The Jacksonville Jaguars weren’t as fortunate as either team as they fell well short of the playoffs, registering half of the wins the Chiefs had and less than have of the 49ers’ total. However, if there was a positive to come from this past weekend it was the fact that Calais Campbell was named Walter Payton Man of the Year, adding to what has already been a great run on and off the field with the Jags.
Campbell, who joined the Jags in 2017, has had such an impressive run he’s undoubtedly established himself as the best free-agent signing in Jags history, and now fans have begun to debate if he belongs in the Pride of the Jags.
Currently, the group includes offensive tackle Tony Boselli, former owners Wayne and Delores Weaver, tailback Fred Taylor, quarterback Mark Brunell, and receiver Jimmy Smith. All of the aforementioned names had been with the Jags at least six years in comparison to Campbell’s three. However, his impact on the team and community has been tremendous in that short amount of time.
Since playing with the Jags, Campbell has participated in played in every regular season game possible (48) as well as every postseason game (three). He’s managed to garner 195 tackles, 31.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and two touchdowns, all of which are solid figures. He’s also gone to the Pro Bowl all three years and was named an All-Pro in 2017.
Off the field, he’s held countless events including hosting several Christmas with Calais shopping events, various Salute to Service visits and has done work with the Jaguars For a Day program. That being said, I don’t think anyone could argue that the organization brought in a class act and great human being into the community.
When considering all of his act off the field and exemplary work in just three short years, Campbell is certainly worthy of going in the Pride of the Jags in my eyes. However, with the Pride of the Jags holding a special place in the hearts of Jags’ fans, some may feel he hasn’t been a part of the team long enough to get the nod yet but I could be wrong.
That said, we’d like to hear from you in the poll below. Does Campbell belong in the Pride of the Jags once he steps away from the game? Let us know in the poll below.
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