He did not represent Donegal at minor or under-21 level.[4]
Under the management of Declan Bonner (first spell), Campbell made his senior debut for his county in 2000.[1]
After the 2005 Donegal SFC title win, Campbell was called into the Donegal senior team by manager Brian McIver.[5]
With Donegal he won the 2007 National Football League. He started the final against Mayo.[6] He also played in the 2006 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final at Croke Park.[7] He announced in 2008 that he had played his last inter-county game. His final inter-county game was against Monaghan in the third-round of the 2007 All-Ireland qualifiers.[2]
Elsewhere Paddy and brother, Seamus, have been involved with teams in Derry and Tyrone, befriending Brian 'Bud' Ludlow as manager of Castledawson in 2012. In February 2013, he was named manager of the Naomh Conaill senior team.[8][9] He was involved alongside Paul McIver at Tyrone GAA club Dromore and, as well as managing Castledawson, has managed the Steelstown and Slaughtmanus clubs.[4]
He was appointed as Derry under-17 football team manager in November 2017.[4] He went on to become Derry minor manager as well.[10] He did so when Damian McErlain took over as manager of the senior team, lasting two years before resigning due to work commitments.[11] In December 2020, he took over manager of Tyrone GAA club Owen Roe Leckpatrick.[11]
^ abcCraig, Frank (8 April 2021). "'It'a massive season for Donegal'". Donegal News. p. 54. Naomh Conaill clubman Campbell was given his Donegal debut by current boss Declan Bonner, during his first spell in charge, back in 2000… But Campbell, nicknamed 'the Undertaker' during his days as a no-nonsense full-back for both club and county, believes last season's woes might actually be of benefit to the squad in the long run… These days Campbell and his family live in Derry where he already has a considerable managerial CV under his belt. He bossed the Oak Leaf U-17 team in 2018 and 2019 and has managed a number of club sides in the county as well, namely Steelstown, Castledawson and Slaughtmanus. He's broadened his horizons once more having recently taken up the reigns at Tyrone outfit Owen Roes where he'll be able to rely on the services of Red Hand ace Cathal McShane.
^"Donegal boss looks at new players". BBC Sport. 12 December 2005. 'In addition to the two Thompsons and Brendan McDyre, we have also brought in Paddy Campbell and Tom Donohue from Glenties'.
^McNulty, Chris (21 January 2016). "County champions Naomh Conaill appoint 2016 management team". Retrieved 21 January 2016. Doherty had a previous spell in charge at Davy Brennan Memorial Park when he was joint-manager alongside Stephen McKelvey in 2012. That year, Naomh Conaill were beaten by St Eunan's in the final of the Donegal SFC, after which Paddy Campbell took over as manager.
