Revenge of the Birds
Everyone who is a fan of the Arizona Cardinals loves Calais Campbell. He began his 18-year NFL career in the desert, and it was assumed that he would end his tenure in Tempe after a year as a member of the Cardinals last year. However, he wasn’t re-signed during the offseason and inked a $5.5 million, one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens in April for 2026.
On Tuesday, Campbell’s 71-year-old mother Nateal, was found unresponsive with a clear cut to her neck. Campbell’s brother Ciarre has been arrested and charged with murder, according to a police statement by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office in Atlanta.
RELATED: APRIL 2025 – CARDINALS BRING BACK VETERAN CAMPBELL
The statement from the Campbell family:
“We are devastated to share that the Campbell Family has lost its matriarch, Mrs. Nateal Campbell. While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Wednesday morning is when Ciarre Campbell was scheduled for his court hearing on charges including aggravated assault and murder.
According to the police report, Ciarre was found in possession of a knife, and his mother was deceased with her throat cut. The police had arrived at a home in Atlanta during a welfare check. Officers found her unresponsive when they arrived at around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Ciarre was booked into the Fulton County Jail. Court records do not show an attorney who is handling the case.
Campbell was selected by the Cardinals in Round 2 of the 2008 NFL draft and played nine seasons with the franchise. He then moved on to Jacksonville, Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, Arizona again, and finally back with the Ravens. He has played in 278 NFL games with 259 starts. Campbell has 960 total tackles, 117 sacks, and 167 pressures, among other stats.
He has been named to six Pro Bowls, three while with the Cardinals. He was named first and second team All-Pro four times, and voted to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. In 2019, he earned the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award while with Jacksonville and was given the Pop Warner Humanitarian Award.
It was expected that he would finish his career in Tempe, but once the club signed DT Roy Lopez, it was clear that the team was moving on. This past season, Campbell had 43 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, 2 batted passes, 18 pressures, 8 knockdowns, 3 hurries, and 4 missed tackles.
