Kyle Shanahan isn’t happy about De’Vondre Campbell leaving in the middle of Rams game

De’Vondre Campbell left the 49ers to fend for themselves midway through the Rams fixture, making a fool out of Kyle Shanahan.

Kyle Shanahan isn’t happy about De’Vondre Campbell leaving in the middle of Rams game

Kyle Shanahan talks about De’Vondre Campbell leaving the team mid game in week 15 (Image via IMAGO/X)

De’Vondre Campbell made an Antonio Brown-style exit on Thursday night, which left Kyle Shanahan and the entire San Francisco 49ers team in shock. The veteran linebacker was ever-present in his first year for the Niners, but according to Shanahan, he didn’t want to play against the Los Angeles Rams.

At the start of the fourth quarter, when the score was 9-6 for the Rams at Levi’s Stadium, Shanahan met with a dilemma. De’Vondre Campbell, who started every game, told the 49ers head coach that he had no intention of playing. After a short exchange of words, Amazon Prime cameras caught the all-pro edge rusher leaving the ground while his team fought to take a lead.

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The game ended 12-6, and the 49ers dropped to 6-8 for the season with no longer the power to decide their own fate in terms of playoff qualification. During the post-game presser, reporters asked Shanahan the reason behind Campbell’s sudden exit from the game.

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He said he didn’t want to play today. He did when I asked him why he didn’t want to go in.

Kyle Shanahan said

While the proper reason remains a mystery, it’s possible that Campbell wasn’t happy because as soon as Dre Greenlaw was available, the Niners’ coaching team replaced him with the 27-year-old in the starting roster. So, when Campbell refused to come on, the Niners were left with undrafted free agent pass rusher Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles after Dee Winters hurt his neck and came off.

When reporters asked Shanahan if this was an indication that he lost the locker room, he straight up dismissed the claim.

I haven’t lost anybody. If somebody doesn’t want to play football, it’s pretty simple. Think our team and myself; we know how we feel about that.

Kyle Shanahan said

49ers players react to De’Vondre Campbell’s refusal to play against the Rams

Campbell walking off in the middle of the game left a bad taste in his teammates’ mouths. They indirectly blamed the former fourth-round pick for the loss.

Kyle Shanahan isn't happy about De’Vondre Campbell leaving in the middle of Rams game
De’Vondre Campbell during his Arizona Cardinals days (Image via ESPN)

Star corner Charvarius Ward locked horns with Campbell prior to him signing a one-year deal with the Bay Area franchise in the off-season. So he’s more than aware of the professional side of the game. He sounded very disappointed with how Campbell acted.

He [has] been playing for a long time. if he didn’t want to play, he shouldn’t have dressed out. He could’ve told them that before the game. I feel like that was some sucker s**t that he did. It definitely hurt the team.

Charvarius Ward said

All-Pro tight end George Kittle, who had 4 receptions for 61 yards, did not hold back on criticizing Campbell.

I think it’s just dumb. It’s just stupid, and it’s very immature. I just don’t see how you can do something like that to your team.

George Kittle said

The 49ers signed De’Vondre Campbell as the replacement for Greenlaw, who was in rehab after suffering an Achilles tear during Super Bowl LVIII in February.

It’s an unfortunate turn of events when the Niners require every player to play as one unit. This may affect the team’s morale if Shanahan doesn’t rectify it quickly.

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