Kelly: Calais Campbell continues to defy father time, anchoring Dolphins defense

Miami Dolphins players have learned to not complain around Calais Campbell.

Not about practice, their snap counts, a playing roles, having to play special teams, or how their body feels.

The 38-year-old will listen, but expect a lecture to come your way when you’re done because that’s what old people do.

“You can’t go through the motions around him,” Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel about the 17-year veteran. “First of all, he’ll call you out, but then second of all, you’d feel too guilty.

“He’s a very powerful piece to our team.”

Some might say Campbell’s the saving grace for this 4-6 team.

Despite losing Christian Wilkins to free agency the Dolphins defensive front has been a force this season, especially the interior players.

The Dolphins defense ranks 10th against the run coming into Sunday’s home game against the New England Patriots, and plenty of that has to do with the fact Miami’s held its last four opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards.

The 60 yards rushing Miami allowed against the Raiders last week was a season-low, and proof the Dolphins defense is beginning to hit their stride now that defensive lineman Zach Sieler, safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Kader Kohou are back from injuries.

“I think it is four straight games and we’re trying to keep that going,” Campbell said. “That’s a big part of our success.”

Miami’s run defense has indeed been a major contributor to the team’s four wins in 2024, and Campbell’s doing plenty of the heavy lifting.

Campbell recorded his fourth sack of the year during Miami’s 34-19 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday.

His four sacks are the most by any player on the Dolphins roster this season. He now has 109.5 career sacks, which ranks him third among active NFL players. He’s only behind Buffalo’s Von Miller, and New Orleans’ Cameron Jordan.

If Campbell is able to log two more sacks over the course of the Dolphins’ seven remaining games, he will pass former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald for 40th on the all-time sack list.

“He’s like the LeBron James of the NFL right now as far as his age and the production that he brings to the game, still playing at a high level,” tight end Jonnu Smith told the Pat McAfee show this week about Campbell, whom he played with in Atlanta last season. “I mean, the guy is 1,000 years old and playing like he’s 21.”

Twenty-one is a bit of a stretch, but Campbell is performing like he’s 10-years younger than he actually is.

That’s part of the reason why he’s been one of the Dolphins’ top offseason acquisitions, and not just because of how he’s played in his 357 defensive snaps, or because he’s playing on a one-year deal worth $2 million after taking less than other offers he had to play for Miami.

His greatest value has come from his leadership, where he’s filled the void created by Wilkins’ departure to the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent.

Campbell has become the Dolphins’ most vocal leader. He’s the player giving the pregame and post game speeches, and also helps set the team agenda because Miami’s coaches listen to him.

“People respect history, and they respect your pedigree,” said Campbell, whose first practice with the team was training camp because he was such a late signee.

But that didn’t stop him from being named a team captain five weeks later.

“As long as you’re still playing at a high level, still pushing yourself, guys usually respond.”

“You know, the best feeling in the world is when the guys look to you. They say ‘talk to me.’ They want to be inspired and so I always try to think of something good,” Campbell said. “Bring good energy and look them in the eyes and let them know that I’m going to bring everything I’ve got, and if we play together we can win, we can beat anybody.”

That’s the message Campbell’s been relaying to the team for weeks hoping they would buy in.

According to The Athletic, the Dolphins fielded a couple of trade calls made for Campbell earlier this month. Nothing seemingly enticed the team to pull the trigger on a move that would have likely tanked the season.

This might seem weird to say, and difficult to understand, but if Miami’s out of playoff contention by the final week of the season the franchise should do Campbell a solid and release him.

A Super Bowl win is the only thing that eludes Campbell from his Hall of Fame resume, and if the Dolphins aren’t in the mix they should give him an opportunity to join another team for the postseason considering this could be his final year.

He’s done everything this franchise has asked him to do, and has earned the right to cherry pick a playoff - possibly returning to Baltimore or Atlanta, maybe latching on to Kansas City, Detroit or Minnesota - if nobody claims him.

That would be the classy thing to do to thank Campbell for everything he’s done for this franchise this season.

But until then Campbell has a job to finish.

“I believe this team has the tools. It just needs to be cultivated and pushed the right way,” Campbell said. “I’m trying my best to do that.”