San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (L) started 12 games this season, but was relegated to a backup role in Week 15 and refused to play against the Los Angeles Rams. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
George Kittle was among several San Francisco 49ers players to criticize teammate De’Vondre Campbell for being selfish after the linebacker refused a directive to play against the Los Angeles Rams.
The incident occurred in the second half of the 12-6 setback Thursday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Campbell left the sideline and walked to the locker room with a towel draped over his head during the fourth quarter. He did not play a single snap or speak to reporters after the game. Advertisement
“It’s one person making a selfish decision,” Kittle told reporters, when asked about Campbell. “I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that, and I hope I’m never around anybody who does that again.”
Injuries to several 49ers linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Dee Winters prompted a need for help at the position, leading coaches to call on the nine-year veteran, who signed with the team last off-season.
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Kyle Shanahan revealed that De'Vondre Campbell didnt want to play in the 3rd quarter.
The TNF crew share their thoughts on the situation. pic.twitter.com/8lcK1tkGTT— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) December 13, 2024
“He said he didn’t want to play today,” said coach Kyle Shanahan, who opted to bring in Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, the only other healthy linebacker — behind starter Fred Warner — on the 49ers roster.
Greenlaw, who experienced knee soreness, was playing in his first game since tearing his Achilles in Super Bowl LVIII. He totaled eight combined tackles in the loss. Winters made a special on special teams. Flannigan-Fowles registered an assisted tackle on special teams.
“When someone says that, you move on,” Shanahan said of Campbell’s objection to playing. “That’s somebody who doesn’t want to play football. That’s pretty simple.
“I think our team and myself, we know how we feel about that, so we don’t need to talk about him anymore.”
Shanahan told reporters that the 49ers “will figure out something,” when asked if Campbell will be released. Campbell, 31, started 12 of the 49ers’ first 13 games this season, but was relegated to a backup role upon Greenlaw’s return. Advertisement
Veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward told reporters that Campbell should have told his teammates before the game that he didn’t intend to play.
“He is probably going to get cut soon, so it is what it is with that,” Ward said of Campbell.
Campbell logged 79 combined tackles, three tackles for a loss and two passes defensed through his 12 starts. The fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft spent his first four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.
Campbell totaled a career-high 146 combined tackles — including 102 solo takedowns — 44 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and five passes defensed over 16 starts for the Packers in 2021, en route to first-team All-Pro honors.
“I didn’t really hear anything about it until I got in the locker room, so it’s all brand new information to me,” Kittle said of Campbell. “If you are on the roster, and you suit up, you are expected to play.
“If anyone in this building got asked to go in, I would say 100% of everybody would die to get on the football field. People go through random things off the field. I can’t speak on that. Whatever his decision was, it wasn’t for this organization. It wasn’t for this team. That’s on him.” Advertisement
The 49ers (6-8) will take on the Miami Dolphins (6-7) on Dec. 22 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
