About 11 months ago, the 49ers appeared to have solved a major problem the team faced in its 2024 season. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw had suffered an Achilles tendon injury during February's Super Bowl, and the 49ers needed a quick and inexpensive fix.
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When the Packers released veteran former All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell just ahead of free agency in March, it appeared that the problem was solved. The Packers had a veteran Band-Aid fix at the position while Greenlaw rehabbed.
Like pretty much all of 2024, though, things did not go as planned for the 49ers at linebacker. Campbell was a starter for 12 games, but was a shell of his former self. When Greenlaw returned, Campbell was moved to the bench and in a Thursday night game on Dec. 12, Campbell refused to enter the game after having lost his started spot to Greenlaw.
The 49ers suspended him for the remainder of the season.
Campbell, who is 31, has since become known as the guy who quit on his team. And though it is unlikely we'll see him in the NFL again, he had quite a bit to say about his situation on Friday.
Writing on Twitter/X, Campbell went on a wild, angry and vulgar rant over three posts, defending himself with threats but never really explaining his actions.
"Listen, I’m sick of all you (expletive) (expletive) jumping under my tweets. It’s been 2 months and I have yet to address the situation cause I know the truth and don’t care to clear anything up. I’m by myself ALL the time if you or any of them (expletive) (expletive) from the 49ers feel some ...
"type of way go wit ya move when you see me cause all them (expletive) that had so much to say about me gone have to stand on them words next time I see them I been standing on business my whole life and it’s gone be like that until the day I’m 6ft under (expletive) (expletive) don’t know me."
Campbell did not stop there, but unleashed much the same level of bile on former players now in the media, the, "old (expletive) retired (expletive) that jumped on TV speaking on my name."
Again, based on performance, it was unlikley we were going to see Campbell back in the NFL. His bridges have been pretty well torched.
