Former Ravens DL Calais Campbell returning to Baltimore on 1-year deal

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Veteran defensive end Calais Campbell is returning to the Ravens and reuniting with coaches Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver, according to ESPN.

The 39-year-old defensive end reportedly signed a one-year deal with the Ravens three years after he left Baltimore. Terms have not been disclosed. His agent could not be reached.

During his previous stint as a Raven, Campbell overlapped with both Minter and Weaver. He arrived in 2020, Minter’s final year as the defensive backs coach, and was cut after the 2022 season following two years playing for defensive line coach Weaver.

Minter is now the head coach, and Weaver is his defensive coordinator.

Over the course of his 18-year career, Campbell has been a Pro Bowler six times, including once with the Ravens. He started every game he played in Baltimore, as well as in 16 of his 18 seasons.

Last season, Campbell started every game and had 43 tackles, including nine for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Arizona Cardinals. His 6.5 sacks would have led the 2025 Ravens, beating defensive tackle Travis Jones’ five.

Campbell should bolster a Ravens defensive line that was set to enter the summer with some uncertainty. Nnamdi Madubuike, whom Campbell helped mentor in Baltimore, is coming back from offseason neck surgery, and team officials have been reluctant to confirm his availability for next season. Broderick Washington, meanwhile, is returning from Achilles tendon surgery and had a disappointing, injury-shortened 2025.

Campbell had 33 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked 31st among interior linemen last season. He ranked third in ESPN’s pass rush win rate at the position, which measures how often a pass rusher is able to beat his block within 2.5 seconds.

If Madubuike is unavailable or limited in 2026, Campbell should help ease the load on Jones, who had a breakout season last year despite constant double teams. Jones is best positioned as a nose tackle, while Campbell can line up over guards or even tackles in pass rush situations.

The Ravens, whose pass rush fell from one of the best in the league in 2024 to one of the worst last season, have relied on trustworthy veterans along their defensive line in recent seasons. They replaced the retiring Michael Pierce with John Jenkins, then extended Jenkins at the end of last season.

This offseason, the Ravens have already addressed the lack of a pass rush in multiple ways. After their trade for Maxx Crosby fell through, they signed free agent Trey Hendrickson. They also used their second-round pick on Missouri’s Zion Young.