“I’ve been playing for a long time and I feel like I had some teams that’s worthy of it, and we didn’t get it done. I believe that this team has a chance,” Campbell said of the Dolphins, who were 11-6 last season but had the season soiled by its end-of-the year collapse, a stretch where Miami lost the final two regular-season games, and then got smoked 26-7 by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs.

Coach Mike McDaniel’s offense had been a top-performing unit for the past two seasons, and last year spent most of 2023 as the NFL’s No. 1-ranked offense. And it doesn’t hurt that Miami added Odell Beckham Jr. and tight end Jonnu Smith to enhance the weaponry.

On defense, Miami finished 2023 ranked 10th and set all types of franchise records. And that’s after losing six starters in the season’s final month. But the defense was gutted by free agency, especially in the trenches, and will be breaking in a new defense that will be led by Weaver.

According to Campbell, Weaver was one of the main selling points for why he picked the Dolphins over some of the other franchises that had standing offers on the table.

“We talked a lot during the process,” Campbell said, referring to his free agency status. “He knows what I’m capable of doing, and he understands my mind and what I’m capable of ... he knows I’m never going to try to hurt the team, but I take calculated risks at times, and play with different techniques at times. But everything is calculated.

“That belief and trust, he is going to allow me to do the things I know will make me successful.”

Campbell admitted he considered retirement this summer, but once his family gave him the green light to continue playing, the Dolphins shot to the top of his list because of the opportunity Miami presented.

Now it’s about figuring out a way to help the Dolphins win the one thing that’s missing from his football resume.

“The love for the game has never left, not even a little bit. I mean, obviously, there was a time where I was a lot [faster] and athletic, but I’m still pretty athletic and still can get the job done on a football field,” said Campbell, who has started 225 NFL games. “I’ve had to learn to use other parts of my game, bringing out more strengths, but I still have enough finesse and everything else. I got a full arsenal of tools. But what keeps me going though, is the love for the game.”

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