Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
49ers LB De'Vondre Campbell Refuses to Play Against Rams
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 months ago on
December 13, 2024

San Francisco 49ers' De'Vondre Campbell walks to the locker room during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP/Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA CLARA — San Francisco linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refused to enter Thursday night’s game in the third quarter after losing his starting job when Dre Greenlaw returned from an injury.

“It’s one person making a selfish decision,” tight end George Kittle said. “I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that and I hope I’m never around anybody who does that again.” — 49ers TE George Kittle

Campbell had started 12 of the first 13 games of the season and played 90% of defensive snaps for the 49ers but was benched for San Francisco’s 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after Greenlaw came back for his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season’s Super Bowl.

Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half but left the game in the third quarter with soreness in his Achilles tendon. That’s when Campbell refused to enter the game.

Coach Shanahan Expresses Shock at Campbell’s Decision

“He said he didn’t want to play today,” coach Kyle Shanahan said after the loss, which left the 49ers (6-8) on the brink of playoff elimination.

Shanahan said he has never seen that before in his coaching career and said the team will “figure out something” on how to deal with it going forward.

Campbell walked to the locker room, leaving his teammates bewildered and angry.

Teammates React to Campbell’s Refusal

“He’s a professional,” cornerback Charvarius Ward said. “He’s been playing for a long time. If he didn’t want to play he shouldn’t have dressed out. He could have told them that before the game. I feel like that was some selfish (stuff) that he did. It definitely hurt the team. Dre went down and we needed a linebacker. … For him to do that, that’s some selfish (stuff) to me in my opinion. He’s probably going get cut soon.”

The 31-year-old Campbell signed a one-year, $5 million deal in the offseason with San Francisco after being cut by Green Bay in March.

He had been an All-Pro in 2021 for the Packers but his play fell off the last two seasons in Green Bay. He had a few bright moments in San Francisco this season but struggled frequently with tackling and in coverage.

Team Expresses Disappointment in Campbell’s Actions

“It’s one person making a selfish decision,” tight end George Kittle said. “I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that and I hope I’m never around anybody who does that again.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Life-Threatening Meals: Restaurants Would Identify Food Allergens for Diners Under This Proposed Law

DON'T MISS

Iran Threatens to Strike US Bases in Region if Military Conflict Arises

DON'T MISS

Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades

DON'T MISS

Fresno Measure C Transportation Tax Talks Continue Amid Renewal Uncertainty

DON'T MISS

Judge Bars Trump Administration From Detaining Mahmoud Khalil

DON'T MISS

Is a Waxed Apple ‘Ultra-Processed?’ CA Bill Could Trigger a Lawsuit Barrage

DON'T MISS

Edmunds: These Five Vehicles Are Hidden Automotive Gems

DON'T MISS

GM to Invest $4 Billion to Shift Some Production From Mexico to the US

DON'T MISS

How Your Air Conditioner Can Help the Power Grid, Rather Than Overloading It

DON'T MISS

Hundreds of Laid-off CDC Employees Are Being Reinstated

UP NEXT

Iran Threatens to Strike US Bases in Region if Military Conflict Arises

UP NEXT

Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades

UP NEXT

Fresno Measure C Transportation Tax Talks Continue Amid Renewal Uncertainty

UP NEXT

Judge Bars Trump Administration From Detaining Mahmoud Khalil

UP NEXT

Is a Waxed Apple ‘Ultra-Processed?’ CA Bill Could Trigger a Lawsuit Barrage

UP NEXT

Edmunds: These Five Vehicles Are Hidden Automotive Gems

UP NEXT

GM to Invest $4 Billion to Shift Some Production From Mexico to the US

UP NEXT

How Your Air Conditioner Can Help the Power Grid, Rather Than Overloading It

UP NEXT

Hundreds of Laid-off CDC Employees Are Being Reinstated

UP NEXT

National Guard Troops Have Temporarily Detained Civilians in LA Protests, Commander Says

Fresno Measure C Transportation Tax Talks Continue Amid Renewal Uncertainty

13 hours ago

Judge Bars Trump Administration From Detaining Mahmoud Khalil

13 hours ago

Is a Waxed Apple ‘Ultra-Processed?’ CA Bill Could Trigger a Lawsuit Barrage

13 hours ago

Edmunds: These Five Vehicles Are Hidden Automotive Gems

13 hours ago

GM to Invest $4 Billion to Shift Some Production From Mexico to the US

13 hours ago

How Your Air Conditioner Can Help the Power Grid, Rather Than Overloading It

13 hours ago

Hundreds of Laid-off CDC Employees Are Being Reinstated

14 hours ago

National Guard Troops Have Temporarily Detained Civilians in LA Protests, Commander Says

14 hours ago

This Israeli Government Is a Danger to Jews Everywhere

15 hours ago

Bass and Other California Mayors Call for End to Immigration Raids

15 hours ago

Life-Threatening Meals: Restaurants Would Identify Food Allergens for Diners Under This Proposed Law

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. If Kim Nickols eats dairy, peanuts or wheat, her blood pre...

12 hours ago

12 hours ago

Life-Threatening Meals: Restaurants Would Identify Food Allergens for Diners Under This Proposed Law

12 hours ago

Iran Threatens to Strike US Bases in Region if Military Conflict Arises

13 hours ago

Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades

13 hours ago

Fresno Measure C Transportation Tax Talks Continue Amid Renewal Uncertainty

13 hours ago

Judge Bars Trump Administration From Detaining Mahmoud Khalil

13 hours ago

Is a Waxed Apple ‘Ultra-Processed?’ CA Bill Could Trigger a Lawsuit Barrage

13 hours ago

Edmunds: These Five Vehicles Are Hidden Automotive Gems

13 hours ago

GM to Invest $4 Billion to Shift Some Production From Mexico to the US

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend