San Francisco 49ers Suspend Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell for Remainder of Season After Refusing to Play

San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell decided during the third quarter of Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams that he would not re-enter the game. The incident occurred in the first game back for star linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who had been sidelined since tearing his Achilles in last year’s Super Bowl. Greenlaw, the team’s defensive leader and top tackler, seamlessly returned to his starting role, totaling 11 tackles in the game.

However, Greenlaw’s return seemingly upset Campbell. Signed during the offseason to a one-year, $5 million deal, the Florida native apparently disagreed with the decision to restore Greenlaw to the starting lineup, a move that reportedly had the full support of the rest of the defense. When Greenlaw suffered a minor injury and temporarily left the game, Campbell still refused to take the field.

Campbell’s refusal did not sit well with his teammates, who were vocal about their disappointment. Head Coach Mike Shanahan later announced that Campbell would not remain with the team for the rest of the season. On Friday, the team officially suspended Campbell for the final three games of the season, effectively preventing him from being picked up by another team on waivers.

While some have called the punishment harsh, others point out that quitting on a team in the middle of a game is unacceptable in a sport built on unity and trust. Campbell will now look for a fresh start in the offseason, and hopefully, he can use this experience to rebound and find success with a new team.