Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell of the San Francisco 49ers departed Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter and went to the locker room. Many people assumed it was because of an injury, despite the fact that he had not played. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan then revealed an even more shocking reason for Campbell’s resignation. Campbell was called in during the third quarter to replace linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who had left the game due to knee soreness. Campbell unexpectedly declined. “He said he didn’t want to play today,” Shanahan told reporters after the game, noting that Campbell had not explained his choice.
Shanahan, visibly irritated, confessed it was his first experience as a coach, but claimed he couldn’t afford to focus on the problem during the game, so he let Campbell leave.
Campbell’s actions caught his teammates off guard, with most only learning about the incident after the game. While many people choose to remain silent, cornerback Charvarius Ward (Mooney) spoke up. “He is professional. Ward told reporters, “He’s been playing for a long time. “If he didn’t want to play, he should not have dressed up. He could have told us this before the game. “So I think he did some sucker s–t. It really damaged the squad because [LB] Dee [Winters] went down, and we needed a linebacker. I believe [LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles] was also injured.
“So, for him to do that, that seems selfish to me. I’m probably going to get cut shortly, but that’s the way it is.”
When asked if Campbell will be released, Shanahan stated, “We’ll figure it out, but I’m not sure right now.” Tight end George Kittle, like Ward, spoke out about the development, expressing unhappiness with Campbell’s choice.
“Look, if you’re on the roster, and you’re suited up, you’re expected to play,” Kittle informed the crowd. “If anyone in this building was invited to go in, I believe 100% of them would die to get on that football field. People are doing strange stuff off the field. I can’t comment on it. Whatever decision he made, it was not for this organization or this team. That’s on him.
“I’m not particularly happy about it. I wished I had heard about it on the field, but I did not. Now, is that why we lost? Absolutely not. However, it is difficult to win football games when someone refuses to play, especially when you are dressed appropriately. It kind of brings you down, especially when you’ve lost two linebackers and could have dressed another.”
Shanahan rejected concerns about Campbell’s behavior, which suggested that the coach had lost the locker room, describing the incident as an isolated decision by the linebacker. “I haven’t lost anybody,” Shanahan remarked. “That’s someone who does not want to play football.” That’s quite straightforward. I think our team and I both know how we feel about it, so I don’t think we need to talk about him anymore.”
Kittle mirrored Shanahan’s assessment, underlining that Campbell’s seeming selfish behavior does not reflect the team’s culture or mindset. “That is one person who just decided not to play for his teammates,” Kittle informed the audience. “… It’s more about one person making a selfish decision, as Mooney put it, and I agree with him. I’ve never been around somebody who has done that before, and I pray I never am again.” Regarding the distraction, Kittle stated, “I think it’s simply ridiculous. It’s simply foolish and incredibly immature. And I don’t see how you could do that to your team.”
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