De’Vondre Campbell refuses to play against the Los Angeles Rams. The San Francisco 49ers are reacting drastically to their linebacker’s scandal.

The San Francisco 49ers have suspended De’Vondre Campbell without pay for three games. This is reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

Accordingly, the linebacker’s season is over after his outburst against the Los Angeles Rams in the Thursday Night Game (6:12) of Week 15.

Campbell had unceremoniously declared during the game that he no longer felt like playing and refused to play.

There was also speculation about a dismissal, but Campbell cannot now sign for a competing franchise as a result of his suspension. In this way, the 49ers save on his salary and put a stop to other teams. In this respect, the suspension is almost the harsher punishment than a dismissal.

“He said he didn’t want to play today,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said at the post-game press conference. Campbell didn’t give a reason.

And further: “His actions in the game, that’s not something you can do to your team or your teammates. […] We will handle the situation appropriately.”

Sources: The 49ers are planning to suspend LB De’Vondre Campbell three games, ending his season, after Campbell refused to go into the game on Thursday night.

Coach Kyle Shanahan had said, “His actions from the game is just not something you can do to your team.” pic.twitter.com/eVCPU1t5wy

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2024

Campbell’s defiant departure is likely due to the loss of his starting position. Ke’Aundre J’Quan “Dre” Greenlaw had made his comeback against the Rams after a persistent Achilles tendon injury, displacing Campbell.

However, the 31-year-old was only signed in the spring as a replacement for the long-term injured player, and his behavior has caused astonishment and outrage throughout the NFL.

Campbell drama: NFL stars are horrified

His teammates at the 49ers turned against Campbell because of his ego trip. “He hurt the team by doing that, it was selfish,” criticized cornerback Charvarius Ward.

Tight end George Kittle called Campbell’s behavior “stupid” and “immature.” “It’s one person making a selfish decision. I’ve never been on a team with someone who’s done that and I hope I’m never on a team with someone who does that again,” the 31-year-old complained.

TV pundit Stephen A. Smith even went into a rage when faced with the issue: “If it were up to me, he would have been fired before he left the locker room. He wouldn’t have made it out of the locker room as a 49er.”

And further: “I’ll be honest. His career is in great danger and it should be. You don’t want a teammate like that. De’Vondre Campbell should be ashamed of himself. There is no excuse for what he did.”

Campbell only joined the San Francisco franchise in March, signing a one-year, five-million-dollar contract.

With his questionable action, Campbell joins a short list of curious NFL moments. So far, there have only been a few cases in which football stars have refused to play. In 2018, the late cornerback Vontae Davis of the Buffalo Bills decided to end his career at halftime of a game.

Three years later, scandal-prone professional Antonio Brown made his own exit from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by stripping off his jersey during a game and dancing through the end zone topless. The clip went viral on social media.