If the Miami Dolphins are to pull off an improbable turnaround from 2-6 to the postseason, Calais Campbell will undoubtedly be at the center of it.
You can't watch a Dolphins game this season without noticing the 6-foot-8 behemoth. It's not just his size but the continued playmaking ability at 38 years old. Campbell netted his fourth sack of the season in Sunday's win over Las Vegas, which leads the Dolphins. Despite his age, he sits third in pass-rush win rate for defensive tackles, per ESPN. He can stuff the run and get after the quarterback.
Campbell's leadership will also be big as the Dolphins continue to turn their season around.
"Calais is one of my favorite teammates in all the sports that I've played," Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith said Monday on *The Pat McAfee Show*. "He's like the LeBron James of the NFL right now as far as his age and the production that he brings to the game, still playing at a high level. I mean, the guy is 1,000 years old and playing like he's 21."
Hyperbole aside, it's ridiculous what Campbell is able to accomplish at an age when most players -- even the great ones -- spend their Sundays anchored to the couch. A non-exhaustive list of some who've done it: Bruce Smith had 19 total sacks at age 38-plus (three seasons), Reggie White unretired at 39 to have 5.5, Chris Doleman had 8 at 38, Clay Matthews had 6.5 at 40 (after one combined the previous two seasons). Those are a few on the very short list who have been able to keep playing deep into their 30s. Michael Strahan, Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt, and most others were all out of the game at that point.
Campbell has 109.5 career sacks. Two more, and he'll pass the recently retired Aaron Donald for 40th all-time.
The fact that Campbell is more than just a warm body taking up space and cashing a check at his age on the defensive line is extraordinary. He's not just producing, either. He's leading a potential turnaround.
"The best leader I've been around," Smith added. "Good dude, good person, deserves everything that's coming to him. It's guys like that, when you come in here, and your season could be looking kind of cloudy, it's guys like that (you're like), I'm going to go through a brick wall for him."
Back-to-back wins have the Dolphins positioned for a potential run into playoff contention despite a 4-6 record. They'll need to continue surging down the stretch to keep hope alive, beginning with Week 12's divisional matchup against the New England Patriots.