ATLANTA, GA – In a stunning turn of events, former Atlanta Falcons linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is on the verge of returning to Atlanta after parting ways with the San Francisco 49ers. The 31-year-old linebacker, who had a brief but impactful stint with the Falcons earlier in his career, made national headlines after refusing to play in his team’s Thursday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Campbell, who had started 12 games for the 49ers this season, was replaced in the starting lineup by Dre Greenlaw due to a returning injury. During the game, Campbell declined invitations to play in the second and third quarters and eventually left the field early in the fourth quarter.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan swiftly responded to Campbell’s actions, revealing that the linebacker would either be suspended or released by the team. Shanahan emphasized that Campbell’s behavior was unacceptable, stating, “His actions from the game, it’s not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still get to be a part of our team.”
Despite his early departure from San Francisco, Campbell has been a productive force on the field this season, tallying 79 tackles and three tackles for loss in 13 games. Before his time with the 49ers, Campbell had spent a successful four years with the Falcons after being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
During his tenure with Atlanta, Campbell played in 59 games with 54 starts, recording 363 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles. His consistent play earned him a move to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, followed by a three-year stint with the Green Bay Packers.
With the news of his departure from San Francisco, the Falcons have moved quickly to reunite with Campbell, signaling their interest in bolstering their linebacker corps as the team prepares for the remainder of the season.
Campbell’s return to Atlanta could bring much-needed depth and leadership to the Falcons’ defense, as the team aims to strengthen their playoff push.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.
