De’Vondre Campbell.Photo:Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty
Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty
De’Vondre Campbell is speaking out for the first time about his unceremonious exit from the San Francisco 49ers, and seemingly the NFL altogether, in a social media rant directed at his critics.
The veteran linebacker, who joined the 49ers with a one-year contract in 2024, ended his season — and his time with the team — afterrefusing to play in the team’s Dec. 12 gameagainst the Los Angeles Rams and later walking off the sidelines, per theNFLandNBC Sports. He was subsequently suspended for the remainder of the season.
The 49ers' general manager, John Lynch, said the team suspended Campbell, 31, “due to conduct detrimental to the team,” and his exit has been heavily discussed online and in NFL programming. But the linebacker has remained relatively tight-lipped about his side of things — until now.
De’Vondre Campbell at the Dec. 12 49ers-Rams game he walked out of.Brooke Sutton/Getty
Brooke Sutton/Getty
On Friday, Feb. 21, Campbell went on a long and profanity-laden rant onXafter a critic called him out on the platform for being “soft” and “acting like you’re a tough guy after crying your way out of two teams.”
“Listen, I’m sick of all you bitch a– n—– jumping under my tweets,” the linebacker began his response. “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.”
The linebacker went on to say that he’s “been standing on business my whole life and it’s gone be like that until the day I’m 6ft under.”
He also said that those criticizing him amid his saga with the 49ers do not “know” him, before calling out those who have been speaking on the situation with only the San Francisco team’s statements to go on.
De’Vondre Campbell in August 2024.Kara Durrette/Getty
Kara Durrette/Getty
After the X account forThe Seth Floyd Show, a program dedicated to the NFL and 49ers football, criticized Campbell for the hypocrisy in his initial rant (“Can’t address the situation cause you can’t defend yourself man”) and said there is “no excuse” for quitting mid-game, Campbell doubled down on his previous posts.
“I ain’t addressing s—,” he responded in anotherX post. “I’m rich and never have to work another day of my life.”
The athlete — who played for the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers prior to signing with the 49ers last year — went on to claim that both Lynch and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan called him and “begged” him to join the team “an hour” after the Packers cut him.
“I really be sparing n—– 🤫,” Campbell added. “I play because I WANT TO.”
De’Vondre Campbell in August 2024.Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty
A rep for the 49ers did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Feb. 22.
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Campbell concluded his headline-making rant with a finalX postdeclaring that critics “can’t get under my skin.”
“They get mad when they can’t successfully troll you 😂😂😂😂,” he wrote. “I’m a real n—- you can’t get under my skin my life is great.”
“I get on here say whatever I want then I log off and go on with my day while [y’all] sit here mad,” he added. “With that being said I hope everyone has a great Friday ✊🏿.”
source: people.com
