Who is 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and why did the NFL player ‘quit’ mid-game against the Rams

DE’VONDRE Campbell is a linebacker who plays for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL.

On December 12, 2024, he made headlines for his actions during their game against the Rams — here’s everything you need to know.

AP

De’Vondre Campbell walking to the locker room during the second half of an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams on December 12, 2024[/caption]

Who is De’Vondre Campbell?

Born on July 1, 1993, De’Vondre Campbell played college football at Hutchinson Community College before transferring to the University of Minnesota.

His NFL career began when he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

He played for the Falconsuntil 2019, establishing himself as a reliable linebacker.

In 2020, Campbell signed with the Arizona Cardinals for a one-year stint.

His career took a significant turn when he joined the Green Bay Packers in 2021, where he earned first-team All-Pro honors.

Campbell remained with the Packers until March 13, 2024, when he was released.

Days later, on March 18, 2024, he signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, where he currently plays — if he’s in the mood.

Incident against the Rams

On December 12, 2024, during a game between the 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, Campbell made headlines for an unusual and controversial decision.

In the third quarter of the game, he refused to enter the field when called upon to do so.

The incident occurred as the team needed him to replace linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who exited the game due to a knee injury.

Greenlaw was making his return from an Achilles injury sustained during the Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024.

Instead of stepping up for the team as expected, Campbell declined to play and subsequently left for the locker room in the middle of the game.

Impact

The 49ers lost the game to the Rams with a score of 12-6, further diminishing their playoff hopes.

The team’s record fell to 6-8, placing them at the bottom of the NFC West.

Campbell’s refusal to play added to the team’s challenges — they were already dealing with injuries to linebackers including Dee Winters and Greenlaw.

Reactions

Campbell’s actions were met with strong criticism from his teammates and coaches.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters: “He said he didn’t want to play today. That was in the third quarter.”

Pressed on whether the 49ers would release the linebacker following the incident, the coach replied: “We’ll figure out something. I don’t know that right now.”

In the locker room after the game, cornerback Charvarius Ward said: “He’s probably gonna get cut soon. He’s a professional, he’s been playing for a long time.

“If he didn’t want to play, he shouldn’t have dressed out.

“He could’ve told them that before the game. I feel like there was some sucker s*** that he did. 

“It definitely hurt the team because D went down, and we needed a linebacker.

He added: “For him to do that, that’s some sucker stuff to me, in my opinion.”

As the team and league process this unusual event, it remains to be seen what consequences Campbell will face and how it will impact his career moving forward.