San Francisco linebacker De’Vondre Campbell made headlines for refusing to play during the second half of Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. This bold move came after Campbell lost his starting position when teammate Dre Greenlaw returned from an injury.
Campbell had been a regular starter, appearing in 12 of the 13 games so far this season and playing a crucial 90% of the defensive snaps. However, with Greenlaw’s return from a torn Achilles tendon, Campbell found himself on the sidelines during the 12-6 loss to the Rams.
In the first half, Greenlaw demonstrated his value by recording eight tackles but exited the game in the third quarter due to soreness in his Achilles. At this critical moment, Campbell chose not to enter the game, raising eyebrows among teammates and fans alike.
Following the game, coach Kyle Shanahan expressed his surprise at Campbell’s decision, noting that he had never encountered such an act in his coaching career. Shanahan acknowledged that the team would need to address this situation moving forward.
Campbell’s walk to the locker room left his teammates both confused and frustrated. Cornerback Charvarius Ward did not hold back, stating, “He’s a professional. If he didn’t want to play, he shouldn’t have dressed out. It was selfish, and it definitely hurt the team.” He added that Campbell could face serious consequences, potentially including being cut from the roster.
Campbell, 31, had joined the 49ers this offseason on a one-year, $5 million contract after being released by the Green Bay Packers. Previously an All-Pro in 2021, his performance had declined over the past two seasons in Green Bay, and while he showed flashes of his former self in San Francisco, he often struggled with tackling and coverage.
Tight end George Kittle also weighed in on the situation, expressing his disbelief: “I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that, and I hope I’m never around anybody who does that again.”
As the season winds down and the 49ers sit at 6-8, the team faces critical decisions about their future strategy and player morale.
