The brother of longtime NFL player Calais Campbell has been charged with the murder of their mother in Fulton County, Georgia.
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WSB-TV in Atlanta reported on Wednesday that police took Ciarre Campbell into custody. He faces charges of murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a knife.
This arrest followed the officers finding the deceased, Nateal Campbell, while conducting a welfare check at a Buckhead townhome on Tuesday afternoon.
"We are devastated to share that the Campbell Family has lost its matriarch, Mrs. Nateal Campbell," the family said in a statement, per ESPN.
"While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ask for privacy at this time so that we may honor her and share in our overwhelming grief privately and as a family."
WSB-TV investigative reporter Mark Winne spoke with attorney Jay Abt, who will represent Ciarre in this case. The attorney said that they "vigorously protest his innocence" in this matter. Abt added that they are honored to represent Campbell's brother, who faces these charges.
Campbell, 39, has been a mainstay in the NFL since entering the league as a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and a one-time First-Team All-Pro.
He spent 10 years with the Arizona Cardinals, the team that drafted him. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars for three seasons, the Baltimore Ravens for three seasons, the Miami Dolphins for one season, and the Atlanta Falcons for one season. He just signed a one-year deal to return to the Baltimore Ravens for the 2026 season.
Campbell is also a winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. He earned this honor in 2019 for his work in various communities and for the work done through the Charles Richard Campbell Foundation. He launched this foundation alongside his mother and siblings to honor his late father.
"His philosophies included community activism, goal setting, celebrating achievements, and the solid belief that you can do whatever you set your mind to do," the foundation's website states.
"He believed in teaching life skills to young people that would allow them to overcome the adversity they face in their everyday lives, in order to become well-prepared adults.
"The CRC Foundation is the direct result of his teachings, and through its mission Charles' legacy will continue for years to come."
