Sports careers can turn on a dime, shifting from glory to uncertainty in ways fans often fail to anticipate. For De’Vondre Campbell, a nine-year NFL veteran, his story this season has been anything but predictable. Let’s unravel how his love for football turned sour and led to a jaw-dropping mid-season decision.
De’Vondre Campbell’s tumultuous journey took center stage earlier this year when he laid bare his emotions on social media. In a reflective moment on X, Campbell’s past tweet has been resurfacing yet again. “I can’t even lie, I’m having so much fun playing football again… The situation I was in was making me lose my love for the game, but I’m back having fun again, and I love that for myself. Thank you, God.”
The tweet came as Campbell transitioned from the Green Bay Packers to the San Francisco 49ers after what he called a toxic final season in Green Bay. Injuries, diminishing production, and reported friction with the coaching staff culminated in the linebacker’s release, despite the lucrative five-year, $50 million contract he had earned after an All-Pro season in 2021.
Campbell wasn’t shy about calling out the Packers’ coaching strategies. “Look at what happened,” he said in March. “They had me, [Quay Walker], out there looking clueless.” His frustrations reached a boiling point when he claimed to have “lost ALL respect” for some coaches, accusing them of ignoring feedback and mismanaging player injuries.
Once in San Francisco, Campbell’s optimism surged. Initially filling the gap left by Dre Greenlaw’s Achilles injury, Campbell seemed poised for a fresh start. Yet, the highs of his early season didn’t last, and cracks began to show as Greenlaw returned to action.
