{"id":925497,"date":"2026-06-22T05:42:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/925497\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T05:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T05:42:17","slug":"the-big-book-of-james-campen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/925497\/","title":{"rendered":"The Big Book Of James Campen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this offseason, we wrote deep dives on the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 three coordinator hires: OC Brian Angelichio<\/a>, DC Patrick Graham<\/a>, and STC Danny Crossman<\/a>. Before the offseason ends, we\u2019re doing the same with a key positional coach: offensive line coach James Campen. In general, the position is a critical hire. The Steelers have benefited when they\u2019ve gotten it right (Mike Munchak) and paid the price when they\u2019ve gotten it wrong (Jack Bicknell Jr., Adrian Klemm).<\/p>\n

Campen is a veteran coach who has been in the NFL for more than 20 years. Understanding him and his background is key to understanding the Steelers\u2019 offense as a whole. Like the others, we\u2019ll dive into his background and coaching philosophy.<\/p>\n

Background<\/p>\n

Born in Sacramento, California, in June 1964, Campen was a player before he became a coach. He began at nearby Sacramento City College before transferring to Tulane for the 1984 and 1985 seasons, about a decade before Omar Khan arrived on campus.<\/p>\n

Undersized, he went undrafted in 1986 and signed with the New Orleans Saints. His first NFL action came with three starts at center in 1987, a door opened by the \u201987 strike. Campen took the field as a replacement player,<\/a> starting against the Los Angeles Rams, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Chicago Bears. The Saints went 2-1, but when the strike ended, Campen returned to the bench.<\/p>\n

Campen signed with the Green Bay Packers in 1989. He spent the first season as a backup but earned the starting job in 1990, starting all 16 games. He held the starting role through the first month of the 1993 season until a hamstring injury put him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Fun fact: he was also a teammate of the late Tunch Ilkin for that \u201993 season.<\/p>\n

With a knee injury in 1992 and his 1993 hamstring ailment, Campen retired after the season. He appeared in 67 games across eight years, making 50 starts.<\/p>\n

Old media guides offer an additional window into his background as a player and person. Here is Campen\u2019s excerpt from the 1992 media guide.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Some highlights:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Coaches praised his intelligence: \u201cHe\u2019s bright, and he\u2019s your classic overachiever. He works hard. I feel like \u2013 because of his intelligence and the way that he plays \u2013 he\u2019s good for our line,\u201d said o-line coach Tom Lovatt.<\/p>\n

\u2013 He had to \u201ctalk his way into\u201d getting the Saints to sign him<\/p>\n

\u2013 He played emergency defensive tackle during his time with the Saints<\/p>\n

\u2013 In high school, he lettered in football and wrestling<\/p>\n

\u2013 Became a reserve deputy sheriff in New Orleans and Green Bay<\/p>\n

\u2013 Competed in NFL Arm Wrestling tournaments<\/p>\n

\u2013 Loves wrestling and the WWF<\/p>\n

In fact, on that last point, Campen cut this 1993 promo that resurfaced a few years ago.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Campen was Green Bay\u2019s starting center for Brett Favre\u2019s first start, Week 4 of the 1992 season. Funny enough, that came against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Favre threw two touchdowns in a 17-3 Packers win.<\/p>\n

He was regarded as a tough and old-school lineman who played with an edge. And played hurt. Undergoing collarbone surgery one year, he asked the Packers\u2019 team doctor who removed a piece of his collarbone to drill a hole in it. Campen tied a piece of string to it and wore it for the season opener, vowing to play, and threw it onto the field at the start of the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI threw the bone out there about the 20-yard line\u2026it got ground up in the dirt somewhere,\u201d Campen said during an NFL Films feature piece.<\/p>\n

Before jumping into NFL coaching, Campen worked at the high school level. Returning to his alma mater, Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, California, he was hired as the school\u2019s defensive coordinator. From 1999 to 2003, he served as the program\u2019s head coach, amassing a 29-20-1 record.<\/p>\n

The NFL came calling in 2004. Mike Sherman hired<\/a> Campen as Green Bay\u2019s assistant o-line coach\/quality control coach, a low-level job but one that knocked down the NFL coaching door. When Mike McCarthy was hired in 2006, Campen was retained as o-line assistant under head o-line coach Joe Philbin.<\/p>\n

While Campen\u2019s role was coaching the offensive line, his relationship with Favre was critical. Effectively, Campen served as the go-between of Favre and McCarthy\/the front office. McCarthy attempted to paint the picture differently, but this 2008 article outlines<\/a> that it was through Campen that Green Bay first heard Favre was considering unretiring.<\/p>\n

\u201cFavre, who led the Packers to a Super Bowl title after the 1996 season, held a tearful news conference to announce his retirement March 6. Through Packers offensive line coach James Campen, Thompson and McCarthy heard a few weeks later that Favre was having second thoughts. Campen is a friend of Favre\u2019s who McCarthy said had been miscast as an official intermediary between Favre and the team in various media reports.\u201d<\/p>\n

Campen was named Green Bay\u2019s head offensive line coach in 2008. He developed a reputation for developing mid and late round picks into starters: Allen Barbe (4th round), Josh Sitton (4th round), T.J. Lang (4th round), Marshall Newhouse (5th round), David Bakhtiari (4th round), J.C. Tretter (4th round), and Corey Linsley (5th round) are just some examples.<\/p>\n

Others had success elsewhere that can be credited to Campen. Like OT Breno Giacomini, who went on to start nearly 90 NFL games, even if none came in Green Bay. He was close to Campen, and after being cut by the Packers in 2010, he signed back to the practice squad because of that relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy offensive line coach was the one who was pushing really hard for me to come back here,\u201d Giacomini told WickedLocal.com.<\/a> \u201cWe just kept talking throughout the whole process. And I feel comfortable here. That\u2019s one of the major things, I feel real comfortable here, and I feel like I\u2019m just going to get better every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Campen is known for his close relationship not just with Favre but also with Aaron Rodgers. The two walked similar paths. Both were born in California. In Green Bay, both men lived in the same town of Suamico, Wisconsin. Rodgers bought his house there in 2005 and lived there until 2017.\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

When Rodgers\u2019 Jets and Campen\u2019s crossed paths for a joint practice, Rodgers had a little fun<\/a> at Campen\u2019s expense. A separate NFL Films feature<\/a> details it all the more. Narrated by Rodgers himself, the video focused on Campen\u2019s return to Green Bay as a member of the Houston Texans for a 2021 preseason game.<\/p>\n

\u201cCampy has been like a big brother to me since I got in the league,\u201d Rodgers said. \u201cWhen I was 21 and a rookie, for whatever reason, he took me under his wing. He was there for me. The moments when I was a young player with not a lot of friends on the squad, not understanding what was going on, caught behind, you know, a legendary quarterback not playing, you know, he was my confidant. We started going to dinner on the road every single week. We had a kind of a standing date and then growing our friendship together over the years. He\u2019s a really special, special person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rodgers noted Campen has a \u201cMiracle Mile\u201d tradition that he still did through at least 2021 and may continue today. For every road game, Campen walks around the city and hands out $1,000 to the homeless.<\/p>\n

\u201cJames has the biggest heart that I know. He\u2019s such a special human. He cares about people so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two also have a fun future bet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he\u2019s 70, and I\u2019m 50, we have a wrestling match. Winner gets paid a charity of our choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

See you in about 8 years.<\/p>\n

Campen coached in Green Bay through the 2018 season. McCarthy was fired midway through the season, and Campen joined the Cleveland Browns in 2019 as head offensive line coach and assistant head coach. Freddie Kitchens was fired at the end of the year, and Campen coached the Los Angeles Chargers\u2019 offensive line in 2020. In 2021, he joined the Houston Texans and in 2022, the Carolina Panthers, where he replaced Pat Meyer. In Pittsburgh, Campen is again replacing Meyer.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a lot of moving for a coach, but he\u2019s had some bad luck with head coaches. LA\u2019s Anthony Lynn was fired at the end of 2020, and David Culley was let go after the 2021 season. With head coach changes often come staff changes that aren\u2019t always a reflection of an individual coach\u2019s ability. Still, Campen\u2019s time post-Green Bay hasn\u2019t been as successful.<\/p>\n

Campen stepped away from football after the 2023 season and reportedly opened and ran a hardware store back in Wisconsin. In 2024, he rejoined the Packers as a scouting consultant. Largely, the role was remote, and Campen helped from his Florida home.<\/p>\n

Former longtime offensive line coach James Campen is back with the Packers. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m told he\u2019s going to work under GM Brian Gutekunst in a scouting role as a consultant. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s here for the final portion of camp but will mostly work remotely from his home in Florida. pic.twitter.com\/sKhdaJDJWg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 20, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Some other odds and ends. Each year, Campen works at \u201cTrench Camp,\u201d founded by Stan Brock, which works with high school linemen and prospects. He\u2019s slated to return for the 2026 version<\/a> July 10-12 in Salem, Oregon.<\/p>\n

Jon Gruden linked up with Campen a couple of years ago. Gruden coached in Green Bay in the 90s when Campen played. It led to a funny moment<\/a> when Gruden got Campen back into his stance and made Favre\u2019s favorite pre-snap line calls.<\/p>\n

During his playing days, Campen would regale neighborhood kids with magic tricks.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Finally, Campen has been the subject of several NFL Films pieces, which we\u2019ll talk more about below. That might be because Campen\u2019s daughter works for NFL Films. Kaley Campen is a Talent Producer and works closely with Hard Knocks, including the 2024 edition that focused on the AFC North.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really terrific,\u201d Campen said in a 2025 interview.<\/a> \u201cIt really kinda hit the first time we were on the field at the same time. We have a picture of that. When I was at Cleveland, she was working that game. We got a picture together. \u2018Hey, we\u2019re both working\u2019\u2026I can\u2019t imagine my life without her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coaching Philosophy<\/p>\n

Unlike Pat Meyer, I couldn\u2019t find a coaching clinic video that Campen led. It makes it harder to find out his teaching style and points of emphasis. Still, there\u2019s plenty of information on him as a coach, as told by his former players, along with some quotes from Campen himself. Former lineman Dane Rudolph once shared his camp experience under Campen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he did single me out was a one-on-one drill against the defense,\u201d he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2009<\/a>.\u00a0 \u201cI had done a good job the first round, but I didn\u2019t do up to the standards that he wanted.\u00a0 He wanted me to go beyond just beating the guy. He wanted me to beat the guy and make sure he did not come back. Once he told me what I needed to do, I was like, \u2018Okay, I can do that.\u2019 So I did it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drafting Giacomini and Josh Sitton in the same class, Campen pointed out their shared traits that he found applicable to the NFL.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will go to the whistle \u2014 and beyond. They\u2019re tough, they hustle to get downfield, they finish blocks,\u201d he said via 247 Sports.<\/a> \u201cThey are both high-energy, tough people. And they\u2019ll bring that type of attitude in the offensive line unit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sounds a lot like Gennings Dunker from this year\u2019s class.<\/p>\n

One running theme from all my research was Campen\u2019s emphasis on coaching and playing to each player\u2019s strengths. Simple as that sounds, not every coach takes that approach. Working within a player\u2019s wheelhouse instead of making him a cookie-cutter version of the ideal maximizes his ceiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s partly because Coach took his strengths, helped with some areas he may not be the best at, and helped bring his level up to elite,\u201d former Packers\u2019 lineman Lucas Patrick once said of fellow lineman Lane Taylor,<\/a> an undrafted free agent who went on to appear in 87 games with 55 starts.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was patient with me, teaching me center, guard and tackle,\u201d longtime lineman Justin McCray said in the same above interview. \u201cHe\u2019s a real player\u2019s coach. He figures out what you do well, and he maximizes on that. He also gave me a chance to figure out if I could play in this league, so I appreciate him a lot for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also undrafted, McCray went on to start nearly 40 NFL games and played under Campen nearly every step of the way. In Green Bay, Cleveland, Houston, and Carolina.<\/p>\n

Campen\u2019s center background makes him even more natural to coach the position, whether for those new to it or those tenured.<\/p>\n

\u201cCampy, being a natural center himself, helped a ton. In the NFL, it\u2019s a different game than it was in college. We play a different offense entirely. His tutelage has been awesome for me over the past couple years,\u201d Corey Linsley said in the same Packers feature piece above.<\/p>\n

Campen is known for his heart and care for players. That can come in the form of tough love, too. After a bad 2023 preseason outing, Campen held a closed-door locker room meeting and apparently ripped into his unit, though he kept the details in-house when reporters pressed him.<\/p>\n

On the field, Campen wants tough players. Mentally and physically.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re mentally tough and you can overcome things, or you can again play with balance in your mind and you have balance in your feet,\u201d he said while a member of the Chargers.<\/a> \u201cYou\u2019re always gonna have your feet on the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of coaches that use the saying, be where your feet are. You gotta live in that movement, and the moments are about 4.5 seconds, and you\u2019re back in a huddle. And so you have to make sure you can turn a switch on and off when you need to. And during that time, be mentally tough. That\u2019s when it\u2019s physical, it\u2019s time to go. So display the physical presence.\u201d<\/p>\n

With his track record of developing mid-round picks and undrafted free agents, Campen pays no mind to how his players get to the roster.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can give a flying crap if you\u2019re drafted in the first round or you\u2019re a free agent that just walked on two days before camp,\u201d he said in the above Chargers interview.<\/p>\n

Training camp will be key for this returning and new-look group. Campen offers the unit some grace.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the good thing about our staff overall and Coach Campy is they understand there\u2019s going to be struggle,\u201d Austin Corbett once said via the Panthers\u2019 website. \u201c<\/a>They understand you\u2019re going to get beat. You\u2019re going to see how you adapt, you\u2019re going to see how you grow, that\u2019s what training camp\u2019s for\u2026it\u2019s a matter of just being able to keep guys\u2019 confidence up while they\u2019re getting beat\u2026.it\u2019s ok.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what training camp\u2019s for, and you\u2019re going to grow through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/p>\n

Like any coach, Campen will be viewed as good as his players. Injuries can throw wrenches into situations. Campen comes with plenty of experience and pedigree. His players seemed to enjoy playing for him, and his mentality of focusing on player strengths is positive. As is his ability to mold \u201clesser\u201d talent undervalued or ignored throughout the pre-draft process.<\/p>\n

His bumpy results since leaving Green Bay are worthy of pause. Of course, reuniting with McCarthy in Pittsburgh increases the chances of philosophical alignment and success. Overall, I\u2019m happy about the hire and the pairing of the vet, Campen, with the younger assistant, Jahri Evans.<\/p>\n