Calais Campbell is 37 and entering his 16th season in the NFL, providing him with rare longevity for a non-quarterback in the physically demanding NFL.
This is no accident. As Campbell told Peter King on Pro Football Talk, he’s invested heavily in staying healthy over the years:
“I remember studying Tom Brady and the greats in this league. I was like, ‘Maybe I should try what they’re doing, too.'” I ended up finding a nutritionist and a chef to learn how to take care of me body of. I know Tom is one of the best examples because he wrote the book and talks about it a lot. The same goes for basketball and LeBron James. I spent $200,000, $300,000 a year, on specialists to treat me. “
His career includes six Pro Bowl selections, a first-team All-Pro selection in 2017 and 101 career sacks (ranked 37th in NFL history). He was outstanding with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, recording 24 tackles (2 for loss), 2 sacks, 6 quarterback hits and 1 forced fumble in 7 games.
The fact that he’s still playing, let alone making an impact, likely comes down to his health regimen.
“Why not give your body the best chance?” Campbell points out. “I don’t know when the wheels are going to fall off, but I’m doing my best to fight Father Time round after round. I’m trying to get another round.”