ENGLEWOOD – Let Calais Campbell share the secret to longevity in an unforgiving industry.

“I love this game with all my heart,” the Cardinals’ eldest statesman, who is entering his 18th season, said after Thursday’s joint practice with the Broncos.

Just how long love can hold off father time is another story, however. Saturday’s preseason game against the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High might be the final chance Campbell gets to walk out of the tunnel of his hometown’s NFL stadium, though he and the rest of the Broncos and Cardinals starters are not expected to play.

“I would be very surprised if it’s not,” Campbell said, answering a question about this season potentially being his last.

“I try not to think about the future, right? I just stay present, but I would be very surprised if it’s not.”

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A couple weeks away from his 39th birthday, the Denver native has four more years of NFL experience than any of his other teammates. That leads to a lot of requests.

“Calais is great. Obviously, he’s from Colorado, but he’s in like his 20th year, so he brings a lot of knowledge. He brings a lot of that to the table,” Cardinals tight end and Fort Morgan native Trey McBride said. “If I see something and I need to ask him a question or I need to bounce ideas off of him, he’s the guy. But most importantly, man, just the energy that he brings when he’s around, you know he means business.”

Some of Arizona’s younger defensive linemen saw Peyton Manning at practice and asked Campbell to make an introduction. Campbell obliged during a quick break in the action, because he gets it. He said he’s still a bit starstruck seeing Steve Atwater, another practice attendee.

“When I was a kid, man, growing up in Denver, I was a diehard Broncos fan, like diehard Broncos fan and could name all the players, you know, all the stats. I was that kid that watched everything, studied everything,” Campbell said. “

“Every time I’m in Denver, every time we play against the Broncos, those emotions are usually pretty strong. I’ve been lucky enough to play a long time and make some friends and stuff, but I’ve seen, I seen Steve Atwater walking out I practiced today, and it’s just like, man, like the kid in me, you know, I’m still a kid at heart. I’m still like ‘Man, that’s Steve Atwater!’”

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The journey started with the Park Hill Pirates back when he was in elementary school, and it came full circle when some current Pirates players and coaches made it out to Broncos Park on Thursday to watch practice. Having Campbell and former NFL running back LenDale White on the same team was good news for the Pirates and bad news for the rest of the metro’s Pop Warner programs.

“It was 32 years ago, and, you know, all through my little league football team, we never lost a game. We were elite,” Campbell said.

“I feel like they’re my family. It’s cool to see the young guys come out here, get to watch some practice. I wish I could’ve brought all the kids.”

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Standout careers at Denver South and the University of Miami followed before Campbell was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. After nearly a decade in Arizona, Campbell totaled 31.5 sacks across three seasons with the Jaguars. Stints with Baltimore, Atlanta and Miami followed before Campbell signed a one-year contract to return to the desert for what could be his final NFL season.

“I felt that my last year was likely the last couple years, though, so I will put that disclaimer out there. Like last year at this time, I felt the exact same way I feel like now. So, you never know,” Campbell said. “I love this game with all my heart, and I feel like it’ll be cheating game if I try to look forward. I got to stay present, stay in the moment and just give this game everything I can right now.”