Ultimate Packers Longshot Anthony Campbell’s Journey Started in Jamaica

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It took about 2.5 seconds for Anthony Campbell to beat his blocker and sack Broncos quarterback Sam Ehlinger on Saturday.

Campbell’s path toward beating some incredible odds and potentially earning a spot on the Green Bay Packers’ 53-man roster has taken about half a lifetime.

Campbell was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Football was definitely not on his radar.

“I played a lot of different sports like soccer, rugby, track and cricket – a lot of sports,” he told Packers On SI recently. “I played more soccer. In middle school, when I moved over here in 2013 (or) ‘14, around there, I started playing soccer. I was a goalie back in Bartow, (Fla.), so that’s where it started off.

“And then in high school, a school resource officer, RIP Officer (Michael) Quinn – he died from cancer – but he seen me in the hallway walking around, he was like, ‘You should come play football for us.’”

Because of his background in soccer, Campbell started out as a kicker. As a sophomore, he started playing as a 215-pound defensive end.

“And my junior year, I started getting looks and offers and all that crazy stuff,” he said. “So, it’s been a big transition to football.”

Anthony Campbell’s Career Gets Sidetracked Twice

There were a couple big detours along the way, though. Offers from Florida Athletic, Indiana and other schools dried up when he missed his senior season at Bartow High School because of a leg injury.

So, he spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons at Independence Community College in Kansas, which got him back on recruiters’ radars, and the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Louisiana Monroe, where he had 3.5 tackles for losses during his final season.

That got him his big opportunity at Miami.

“I wanted to go against better competition, get experience, better coaching and stuff, and we was losing and had ups and downs there, so I transferred to Miami and stuff happened.”

Yeah, stuff.

Campbell played in one game for the Hurricanes in 2023 and eight games in 2024. In two seasons, he played 56 snaps on defense. He wasn’t hurt. He just didn’t get on the field.

“Not wanting to bash nobody, but it’s just opportunity,” he said. “You know, stuff happens and then opportunity. You just got to be in the right place at the right time.”

Campbell’s confidence could have been crushed. If he wasn’t good enough to play in college, how on earth would he be good enough to play in the NFL?

Campbell, however, wouldn’t take no for an answer. He listened to those close to him and kept chasing what might have seemed like an impossible dream.

“You got people in your background telling you that you can do whatever you want,” he explained. “Because I’m very dedicated. Once I put my mind on something, I’m going to accomplish it. And I’m going to try to push myself to overcome anything, any obstacle that’s coming my way. I like to challenge myself and prove people wrong.”

Not surprisingly, Campbell went undrafted in 2025. He signed with the Seahawks about a month after the draft and competed for a roster spot during training camp but was released. He spent a couple days on their practice squad, and that was that.

Campbell was out of the league until the Packers signed him to their practice squad for the final week of the season and then retained him with a futures contract.

Anthony Campbell Becomes Surprise Camp Sensation

That humble start kicked off one of the more amazing Packers training camp stories in years. Campbell started camp by batting down a pass or two every day. As camp has progressed, he’s made more plays in the backfield, whether tackles for losses on running plays or pressures of the quarterback.

Against Denver, he clobbered Ehlinger. He finished the game with three tackles, according to the official stats, and a team-high four pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Anthony Campbell had a big night at Denver. Here’s his sack. pic.twitter.com/yarFNSW6L4
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) August 24, 2026

“A.C., man, he’s a guy that’s going to maximize every opportunity you give him,” position coach Vince Oghobaase said last week. “In the spring, every technique, every alignment, every drill, he wants to do it to perfection. When you get out there and tell him to do something to an offensive lineman aligned at this position, do this technique, he’s going to do it.

“He’s maximizing his opportunity. I think he’s batted over 10, 12 balls over the course of training camp, dating back to the spring. He’s been playing lights out, playing fearless, playing confident, playing with a chip on his shoulder. He’s come a long way. He’s done an incredible job. That confidence piece is huge for defensive linemen. When you’re confident, and you play fast, you play free, things can happen for him. He’s going like that (hand angled up).”

How? How did a player with exactly one tackle in two seasons at Miami put himself in position to make the Packers’ roster?

“It’s just something in me,” Campbell said. “My mom, the same way. It’s something in me.”

He shared a tackle for loss with Chris McClellan against Denver and with Warren Brinson against Pittsburgh.

“Just doing my job. Coach J.G. calls the right call, I’m going to do my best to execute it. Just doing my job. Coach V.O. teaches a lot of stuff to do. We got techniques we work on every day. You do it. I’m just going to go out there and do my best. Not think a lot, just go. Do my job. Whatever they tell me to do, I’m going to do it.”

From Kingston to kicking, from out of the league to challenging for a roster spot, it’s been an incredible journey.

“It’s not over yet,” he interjected. “I’m still working but, at the end of the day, I want to look back and I’m saying, damn, I’m strong. I’m going to keep pushing. Whatever happens here or somewhere else, I’m going to keep pushing.”

A huge final week of training camp will kick off on Monday. It will culminate with a joint practice against the Cardinals on Wednesday and a preseason game on Friday. Gutekunst will select his 53-man roster on Sunday.

“I love this transition for me,” Campbell said. “I like the experience I’m getting right now. Everything here is beautiful here. I love everything here. Players, everybody.”

With a huge final week of training camp coming up,@JacobWestendorf predicts the Packers' 53-man roster. ⬇️https://t.co/ejqtzi5LSq
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) August 23, 2026

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY PACKERS NEWSLETTER

Add us as a preferred source on Google