Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell now owns the NFL record for games played at his position, reaching 283 in Sunday night’s 30-23 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons and moving one clear of Minnesota Vikings great Jim Marshall.
The Ravens marked the milestone on Sunday night, and it came in a game that carried extra weight for Campbell. Sunday would have been the 72nd birthday of his mother, Nateal, who died in June, and the 40-year-old spoke on Monday about dedicating the night to her.
Atop the record books.
Calais Campbell has now played more games than any defensive lineman in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/JzO3AmaEwh— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 12, 2026
Campbell opened the 2026 season at 278 career games, five short of the mark Marshall set across a 20-year career that ran from 1960 to 1979. He drew level the previous week and passed him at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the home of a club he played for in 2023.
Still producing in his 19th season
Campbell was not a ceremonial presence. He played 32 snaps against Atlanta, made two tackles and dropped Bijan Robinson for a loss, part of a run defense that kept the Falcons’ star to 86 yards on 17 carries. Baltimore trailed 23-15 with 2:31 left in regulation before Tyler Huntley found Devontez Walker for a 7-yard touchdown, Derrick Henry ran in the two-point conversion and Huntley won it with a 1-yard run in overtime.
“I left it all on the field today,” Campbell said after the game.
He went into Sunday with 117 career sacks. His best season came with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017, when he had 14.5, and he posted 6.5 sacks and 43 tackles for the Arizona Cardinals a year ago. His career has also included nine seasons in Arizona at the start, three in Jacksonville, a first spell in Baltimore from 2020 to 2022, and single seasons with the Falcons and the Miami Dolphins.
On Monday the Ravens shared his reflections on the night.
“I just wanted to play my heart out for my mom today,” Campbell said.
"I just wanted to play my heart out for my mom today."
Calais Campbell talked about honoring his mother in last night's victory. 💜 pic.twitter.com/Z2yKgSKyPS
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 12, 2026
A final season, for now
Campbell signed a one-year contract to return to Baltimore this offseason and said in June that he was planning for 2026 to be his last year, while leaving room to change his mind. After his mother’s death he took a short leave as camp opened, then worked his way back with help from the coaching staff. Every game he plays from here adds to a record that is now his alone.
What comes next
The Ravens, 4-1 after the comeback in Atlanta, visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, October 18, at 1:00 p.m. EDT, with Lamar Jackson’s ankle the main question of the week. The full box score is in the Ravens-Falcons Game Center.
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