After offseason tragedy, Ravens star Calais Campbell is playing through the pain

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Calais Campbell loved his mother. He also loves football. And that is what has made this summer so hard and so necessary.

On June 30, Campbell’s 71-year-old mother, Nateal, was found dead in her Atlanta home. Ciarre Campbell, Calais’ brother, who’s struggled with mental health issues, was charged with her murder.

On Aug. 3, five days after training camp opened in Owings Mills, the Ravens’ larger-than-life defensive lineman took the practice field for the first time since his mother’s passing.

“I love the game of football a lot,” he said after a training camp walk-through Tuesday, making his first public comments on his status for the 2026 season. “It brings me joy, and so me playing football, the training was adjusted a little bit. ... But as far as football goes, I love this game a lot, and this is a very fun place for me to be. And so playing football has been great for me.”

Campbell acknowledged that the past few months had been “pretty tough for me.” In a 2017 essay for The Players’ Tribune, he called his mother “my rock.” She had worked as a counselor and adviser for the CRC Foundation since 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile. Campbell launched the foundation, which focuses on providing mentorship, education and resources for communities, in 2013 with his mother and seven siblings. It’s named after his late father, Charles Richard Campbell.

In a 911 call made before police found Nateal Campbell in June, a family member said Ciarre Campbell had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a severe mental illness that can cause people to hear voices, suffer from paranoia and withdraw from others.

“I really appreciate all the love and support and the prayers that have been coming from all over, really from all the NFL community, all the fan bases, and you guys as well,” Calais Campbell said. “So I appreciate the prayers. Continue praying for us, because we need it.”

Campbell, who will turn 40 in September, said he has “eased” into the grind of camp. His snaps in full-team drills have been limited, and he sat out Saturday’s preseason-opening win over the Philadelphia Eagles. He likely won’t play in the Ravens’ next two games, either, instead using this week’s joint practices against the Minnesota Vikings and next week’s practice against the Washington Commanders to ramp up for his 19th NFL season.

The Ravens have been careful not to overtax him. One of the NFL’s most respected veterans, Campbell is as valued for his on-field contributions as for his off-field intangibles. Coach Jesse Minter called him an “unbelievable leader and mentor.”

“You let guys do their own way of mourning, right?” first-year defensive line coach Lou Esposito said. “And know that, ‘Hey, we’re here to support you, whatever you need.’ That’s been the message from Day 1. You want to come in and talk, we talk. You want to go to work, we’ll go to work. And I think sometimes routine and being around people like them is a great way to take your mind off of things. And it’s been awesome for us. So whatever he needs, we’re there for him.”

In Baltimore, Campbell is back on familiar ground. He spoke glowingly about the development of veterans like quarterback Lamar Jackson and defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike — rising stars when he first arrived in Baltimore in 2020 for the first of three Ravens seasons — as well as safety Kyle Hamilton, a 2022 first-round pick.

Campbell was also careful not to look too far ahead. An NFL title has eluded him over his decorated career (six Pro Bowls, 117 sacks, 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award). In 2022, he acknowledged that he’d “always had a vision” of playing in a second Super Bowl. His first trip, as a rookie in Super Bowl XLIII, ended with the Arizona Cardinals losing 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I’m trying to get away from making predictions and expectations and all that stuff,” he said. “We’re going to have fun playing football. And whatever happens, happens.”

Campbell’s expected to be in the middle of it all. With Travis Jones coming off a breakout 2025 season; Madubuike, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, working his way back into action after offseason neck surgery; and Campbell still a warhorse inside — his 6.5 sacks last season with the Cardinals would’ve led the Ravens — Minter could have one of the NFL’s toughest defensive interiors.

On Tuesday, Campbell let himself smile at the possibilities. This summer has tested him. Football has been a haven. September, he said, “can’t come soon enough.”

“Honestly, I really hope that [this season] is what I think it is, because it can be very, very special,” Campbell said. “Obviously, you got to go out there and do it, though.”