Khary Campbell

Khary K. Campbell /ˈkɛəri/ (born April 4, 1979 in Brooklyn, New York) is a former American football linebacker that played for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Washington Redskins and Houston Texans. He played college football at Bowling Green. He is now an assistant coach at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Va.

Early years

Campbell played at Sylvania Southview High School in Sylvania, Ohio, where he was a three-year starter at free safety and also started at halfback and wide receiver. He ran the 200 and 400 meters in track.^[1] As a junior he registered 83 tackles, 5 interceptions and received first team All-NLL honors.

College career

Campbell attended Bowling Green where he played free safety as a freshman until suffering sprained ligaments in his lower back and being redshirted. The next year he became a starter at outside linebacker in the team's new 4-3 defense.^[2]

He finished his collegiate elegibility with 299 tackles, ten forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He led his team in tackles after both his junior (95 tackles) and senior seasons, while playing under Urban Meyer. In his last year he was a second-team all-MAC selection and a team captain.^[3][4]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Campbell was not selected in the 2002 NFL Draft and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. He was waived on August 27 and re-signed to the practice squad on September 3.^[5][6]

New York Jets

Campbell was signed off the Cowboys' practice squad by the New York Jets on September 24, 2002. He appeared in nine games as a rookie and recorded seven tackles.

As an exclusive-rights free agent in the 2003 offseason, he was re-signed on April 1. He was as a reserve linebacker and a special teams player, registering three tackles in four games, before being waived on September 30.^[7]

Washington Redskins

Campbell signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins on April 5, 2004. He played nine games and recorded 13 tackles before suffering a torn ACL in his left knee and being placed on the injured reserve list.

The next season he became a standout special teams player and was named a team captain. He played in 15 games for the Redskins in 2005, recording 15 tackles and also earned the team's Ed Block Courage Award.^[8]

He was re-signed to a three-year contract in March 2006, and went on to appear in 14 games, including his first career start. He was placed on the injured reserve list on December 29, after finishing with 21 tackles.

Campbell appeared in all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2007, recording a career-high 34 tackles. He played in 14 more games for the Redskins in 2008, recording 13 tackles. He became an unrestricted free agent in the 2009 offseason, after leading the team 4 straight seasons in special teams tackles (136 tackles).

Houston Texans

Campbell was signed as a free agent by the Houston Texans on August 17, 2009.^[9] He was waived on September 5 and re-signed on September 30 to replace an injured Chaun Thompson. He was placed on the injured reserve list on October 6,^[10] with a knee injury that forced him into early retirement.

References