08/18/26 12:49:00
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08/18 12:47 CDT Raven's Calais Campbell says football 'brings me joy' amid
family tragedy
Raven's Calais Campbell says football 'brings me joy' amid family tragedy
By IAN NICHOLAS QUILLEN
Associated Press
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) --- NFL veteran Calais Campbell knew he wanted to keep
playing, even after a family tragedy this summer resulting in his mother's
death and his brother being charged with murder.
"I love the game of football a lot ... it brings me joy," the 39-year-old
Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman said Tuesday in his first public remarks
since his mother's death. "It was a little harder training, but as far as
football goes, I love this game a lot. And this is a very fun place for me to
be. So playing football has been great for me."
The Ravens signed the six-time Pro Bowler in April to a one-year deal for his
19th NFL season.
In late June, police found his 71-year-old mother dead at her home in Atlanta
during a welfare check. Her 41-year-old son Ciarre Campbell was charged with
murder after he was found with a knife, according to arrest warrants. The
family told police that Ciarre struggles with mental illness.
The Ravens permitted Calais Campbell to miss the first few full-team practices
of training camp. He participated in his first team session on Aug. 3, five
days after the Ravens opened full-team camp.
"These last couple months have been pretty tough for me and my family, but
we're working through it," Campbell said. "And I really appreciate all the love
and support and the prayers that have been coming from all over, really, from
all the NFL community. ... Continue praying for us because we need it."
Campbell, who will turn 40 on Sept. 1, previously played in Baltimore from
2020-2022, making his sixth and final Pro Bowl during his first season with the
Ravens.
He returns to an organization with a different look, including first-year head
coach Jesse Minter and a mostly new coaching staff.
"(He) brings great versatility along the D-line, is an unbelievable leader and
mentor in that room and in the defensive room and with the team," Minter said
of Campbell, who has 117 career sacks in 278 NFL games, including 259 starts.
"The timing of it obviously was really tough for him and his family. We allowed
the first week or two of camp for him to really kind of work himself to get
ready, as it affected his summer preparation, obviously. ... I'm really happy
that we have him."
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