De’Vondre Campbell is going to be released soon, but the 49ers should make him do this one thing before handing him his walking papers.
The fact the San Francisco 49ers were effectively eliminated from playoff contention by their Week 15 Thursday Night Football loss to the Los Angeles Rams is inevitably going to be overshadowed by veteran linebacker De’Vondre Campbell’s shocking decision to not enter the game in the third quarter, essentially quitting on his team in the middle of the game.
Understandably, players and coaches were rife with frustrations toward their teammate, who’ll likely find himself a free agent in the very near future.
Campbell, who wasn’t even the Niners’ primary target to fill in for injured star Dre Greenlaw last offseason, was a placeholder and had to understand that when signing his free-agent deal.
Whatever sentiments Campbell had about Greenlaw’s return and subsequent reduction in playing time needed to be handled in a professional and mature fashion, but they ultimately weren’t. And Campbell likely stained whatever might be remaining in his NFL career.
Of course, the knee-jerk reaction would be for San Francisco to release the one-time first-team All-Pro at the soonest opportunity. Head coach Kyle Shanahan even confirmed on Monday that cutting the linebacker was imminent.
But there’s one thing Campbell should do before such a transaction.
Accountability.
NFL insider Josina Anderson felt the urge to release Campbell immediately wasn’t the right move, suggesting the linebacker have a chance to explain himself to his teammates:
No. There’s no need to jump to instant job loss. He should be given time to share his mindset, to commune with his teammates after more time to reflect and to demonstrate better judgment. https://t.co/EKYFxbaKrK
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) December 13, 2024
How about the other way around?
Now, without knowing what the 49ers can actually make him do (contracts and the CBA matter, in terms of requiring players to do certain things), Campbell needs to take one more action before being released.
He should indeed face his soon-to-be former teammates.
But, unlike Anderson’s take, it should be those teammates who air their grievances and frustrations with Campbell’s decision directly to his face. And Campbell would need to be held accountable by the leaders of the locker room.
Greenlaw, who underwent a grueling rehab after his Achilles tear last February, has a right to speak up to Campbell. So does fellow linebacker Fred Warner, who has been playing on a fractured ankle nearly all season.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward and left tackle Trent Williams, both of whom have tragically lost children this season, have a right to call out Campbell, too.
There are plenty of other Niners, too, who should have no issue expressing their sincere anger and disappointment to Campbell.
Once that’s complete, bye-bye.
