Cheesehead
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- Mar 19, 2019
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GREEN BAY – After last month's NFL Draft, Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst suggested it was a possibility the team could still sign a veteran inside linebacker this offseason.
That individual turned out to be De'Vondre Campbell, a sixth-year pro out of Minnesota who has started 70 of the 75 games in which he's played in the NFL.
Campbell, 27, has recorded 462 tackles (25 for a loss), 7½ sacks, six forced fumbles and three interceptions over his five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals.
Here are five things to know about the Packers' newest signing:
1. Campbell has played a lot of football…
Since entering the NFL in 2016, the 6-foot-3, 234-pound linebacker has played 4,202 defensive snaps in the regular season. He started 10 games for Atlanta as a rookie, snagging his first career interception off Carson Palmer in a Week 12 win over Arizona. Campbell's rookie season in Atlanta coincided with Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur's final year as the Falcons' quarterbacks coach. Campbell started in Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots, recording four tackles. Since 2017, he's averaged 103.5 tackles per season with all 7½ of his career sacks coming during that time. Campbell has had some big performances against the Packers. He has 22 tackles, two sacks (Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley) and a pass breakup in four games against Green Bay (including playoffs).
2. …despite getting a late start with the sport.
The native of Fort Myers, Fla., didn't start playing football until his sophomore year at Cyprus Lake High School. His lone scholarship offer came from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, where he was teammates with future Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson.