Of the hundreds, even thousands, of tackles Calais Campbell has made since he first strapped on football pads as a pee wee football player in Denver, none was as much fun as the one he made in the end zone at the University of Phoenix Stadium last Sunday.
Never mind that Campbell was tackling his own Arizona Cardinals teammate.
Campbell, a second-year defensive end and graduate of Denver South High, watched as Karlos Dansby scooped up a fumble by Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Then, his left arm raised triumphantly in the air, Campbell chased Dansby into the end zone on the game-winning touchdown in overtime. The 6-foot-8, 290-pound Campbell then wrapped his arms around Dansby’s back and pulled him to the ground to set off a jubilant celebration with the rest of their Arizona teammates.
“That was my best tackle of the day by far,” Campbell said. “I think maybe the best tackle of my career.”
The 51-45 victory against the Packers set up the Cardinals for a game today at New Orleans, the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, as the Cardinals try to make another Super Bowl run.
Campbell was a reserve last year as a rookie when the Cardinals won the NFC championship. Now in his second season, Campbell is a full-time starter at defensive end who had seven sacks in the regular season.
“It’s crazy, because I remember when he was 6 years old, playing peewee football for the Pirates, so then watching him at the Super Bowl last year, that’s when it really hit me, like, ‘Wow, this is the real deal,’ ” said Keyonne Campbell, Calais’ older sister. “It’s been awesome. We’re a football family, so it almost seems natural.”
As Campbell grows into his role of an NFL pass rusher, he constantly thinks back to lessons he learned in Denver, especially those he took from his father, Charles.
Charles Campbell passed away during the fall of Calais’ senior year at South High, before Calais’ standout career at the University of Miami and the start of his NFL career. Campbell said he often wonders what his dad would think about where he is now.
“I know he would be very proud of me,” Campbell said. “I think a lot of what I do, I never forget where I came from. My dad is a big reason for where I’m at.”
Turns out the messages Charles Campbell preached to his son in high school are just as applicable in the NFL.
“There was this one game in high school, we were playing East my sophomore year, (I) had made a few plays, like two sacks or something and a couple of tackles, was so proud of myself and was bragging. My dad humbled me and said, ‘You don’t have to always talk about what you do, let your performance talk for you.’
“He told me that after I made a few plays, it seemed like I was satisfied,” Campbell said. “I learned you have to go hard every single play.”
Campbell said he understands how important effort will be in today’s divisional game against New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and one of the league’s top-rated offenses. Campbell is officially listed as questionable on the injury report because of a thumb injury he suffered in the regular-season finale, though he was able to play while wearing a cast on his left hand last week.
“We’ve got to get pressure on Drew Brees, get him out of rhythm,” Campbell said.
“If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. That’s one of the things my dad always taught me.”
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
