‘He Didn’t Want To Play’: 49ers Linebacker Refuses To Enter Big Divisional Game

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refused to go into the game on Thursday night as his team faced off against the Los Angeles Rams for a pivotal rivalry game in the final stretch of the season.

In the 3rd quarter of the close game, Campbell was asked to replace starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw after Greenlaw, who was playing in his first game of the season after tearing his Achilles in last season’s Super Bowl, complained of soreness. The backup linebacker, however, refused to go into the game because “he didn’t want to play,” according to Shanahan.

Campbell headed to the locker room shortly after being asked to enter the game. The 49ers, the defending NFC champions, went on to lose to the Rams 12-6, a huge blow to San Francisco’s playoff chances as the team falls to a record of 6-8.

Shanahan told reporters after the game that Campbell didn’t give a reason for refusing to play, adding that it’s the first time a player on his team said he didn’t want to go into a game.

“That’s somebody who doesn’t want to play football. It’s pretty simple,” Shanahan said. “I think our team and myself I know how we feel about that, so. I don’t think we need to talk about him anymore.”

Kyle Shanahan’s comments on De’Vondre Campbell not wanting to play:

“That’s somebody who doesn’t want to play football. It’s pretty simple. I think our team and myself I know how we feel about that, so. I don’t think we need to talk about him anymore.” pic.twitter.com/bS8FhQAqWU

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 13, 2024

The 49ers star tight end, George Kittle, blasted his teammate after the game, telling reporters, “I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that, and I hope I’m never around anyone that does that again.”

Both Kittle and Shanahan said that Campbell’s actions don’t reflect any issues among players on the team or conflicts between players and the coaching staff.

“That’s just one person who decided not to play for his teammates,” Kittle said.

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George Kittle on De’Vondre Campbell refusing to go into the game:

“I’ve never been around anybody that’s ever done that, and I hope I’m never around anyone that does that again.” pic.twitter.com/YAzgstVXej

— Coach Yac ???? (@Coach_Yac) December 13, 2024

49ers cornerback Charvarius “Mooney” Ward said that Campbell made a “selfish” decision, adding, “He definitely hurt the team” and “is probably going to get cut soon.” Shanahan did not say whether the team would release the linebacker, who was signed at the beginning of the season on a one-year $5 million deal.

Here is the whole Mooney Ward exchange on De’Vondre Campbell refusing to go into the game tonight.

Mooney was brutally honest about a guy who appeared to quit on his team. #49ers | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/CT6zNcC4t1

— Matt Lively (@mattblively) December 13, 2024

After the loss, San Francisco is in last place in the NFC West, and its playoff chances are less than 1%. Campbell is in his ninth season in the NFL, having played for the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers before joining the 49ers.