Jack Campbell

Jack Campbell (born August 22, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was a unanimous All-American playing college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, winning the Butkus Award in 2022. Campbell was selected by the Lions in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, and named to the All-Rookie Team. He earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections in 2025, as well as being the professional Butkus Award recipient.

Early life Campbell attended Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa. As a Junior and Senior, he led Cedar Falls to back-to-back 4A State Basketball Championships in 2018 and 2019, respectively. During his football career he had a school record 338 career tackles. He committed to the University of Iowa to play college football.

College career As a true freshman at Iowa in 2019, Campbell played in 11 games and had five tackles. As a sophomore in 2020, he played in five games and had 29 tackles, one sack and one interception. He returned as a starter his junior year in 2021, recording 140 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a touchdown. After the 2021 season, Campbell was named first-team all Big Ten, leading one of the best defenses in the country.

Campbell returned to Iowa in 2022 and was named the preseason Big Ten defensive player of the year by Big Ten media. Campbell led the elite Iowa defense in 2022 to a nationwide best in yards per play average and top five in total defense and defensive efficiency. Campbell finished the regular season with 118 tackles, ranking second in the Big Ten and tied for 13th nationally, adding two interceptions, one recovered fumble and one forced fumble. Against Minnesota, Campbell's forced fumble and long interception return, both in the fourth quarter, enabled Iowa's victory despite being outgained and having much less time of possession.

Following the season, Campbell was given the 2022 Butkus Award as the top linebacker in college football as well as the William V. Campbell Trophy as a scholar-athlete. He was also named the Big Ten's Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year.

Professional career

Campbell was selected with the 18th pick in the 2023 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. Campbell recorded his first career sack in a Week 3, 20–6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Following the end of the regular season, Campbell was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

On April 28, 2026, the Lions declined the fifth-year option on Campbell's contract, making him set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. However, on May 21, the Lions signed Campbell to a four-year, $81 million contract extension that runs through the 2030 season.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL FF FR Yds TD Int Yds TD PD 2023 DET 17 12 95 52 43 2.0 5 — — — — — — — 1 2024 DET 17 17 131 69 62 1.5 5 1 — — — — — — 5 2025 DET 17 17 176 89 87 5.0 9 3 2 2 — — — — 4 Career 51 46 402 210 192 8.5 19 4 2 2 — — — — 10

Postseason Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL FF FR Yds TD Int Yds TD PD 2023 DET 3 2 15 8 7 0.0 0 0 — — — — — — 0 2024 DET 1 1 14 8 6 0.0 0 0 — — — — — — 0Career 4 3 29 16 13 0.0 0 0 — — — — — — 0