The Cardinals were a favorite in 2016, which was also the final year of Campbell’s contract at the time. “People started thinking we could do some damage, and I think we started believing that,” he said.

The season was disappointing – the Cards finished 7-8-1 – but Campbell had eight sacks, three fumble recoveries, six pass deflections and was named second-team AP All-Pro. Even with Campbell getting 14½ sacks the next season in Jacksonville, it is 2016 that Campbell calls the best season of his career.

“That ’16 season set him up for the success he’s having now, because he took his work level to the next level,” Rucker said.

Arians was hard on Campbell, calling him out in the media more than once. Campbell said that was one of the best things Arians could have done for him, more than a one-on-one conversation or even in a team meeting.

“I don’t remember what game it was, but someone asked about my game. And he was like, ‘Well, he played good today but there are times when I don’t notice him on the field,'” Campbell said. “I’m like, ‘Damn.’ But from that moment on, I made sure every time I played, I made my presence felt. Which is what his goal was. It made me a better player.”

The Cardinals, however, saw Campbell now nine years into his career and had a 2016 first-round defensive lineman in Robert Nkemdiche. Eventually, Campbell had a meeting with Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill.

“He sat me down, (and said) ‘I really love you, think you are a phenomenal player, I have to listen to my advisers,'” Campbell recalled. “‘We feel you are going to get top dollar offers in FA and I don’t know if we can compete with what we are spending at that position.’

“I could feel the love. He knew I was a legacy guy and I have a lot of admiration for him being honest.”

Campbell didn’t want to leave Arizona. That was clear in a video Campbell produced around his free-agent process, including giving the Cardinals one final chance to match Jacksonville’s huge offer. Campbell’s hometown Broncos also were looking into signing him, but no one came close to the Jaguars’ deal.

“I think I was hoping for the Larry Fitzgerald treatment, you know, no matter what the cost we will keep you,” Campbell said. “But Larry is different. He’s a different level.

“Sadly, it was the best thing that happened in my career because I got to play true D-end for the first time in my career. Because of who I am and my desire to play in that role, I was happy to be able to show that.”