Imagine your team is down by two players mid-way through a game. And to make matters worse, your team was actually winning until you lost two players in a single position. There’s a chance the game could slip away from your hands. But you have a savior in someone who had already started 12 games for you and was only benched once. Like he was part of the team’s 90% defensive snaps and could have easily helped in securing the game. However, in some astonishing circumstances, the 49ers couldn’t get De’Vondre Campbell on the field. He outright refused to listen just because someone else took his spot.
See, as I have already said, Campbell started 12 out of the first 13 games for the Niners. But the moment star linebacker Dre Greenlaw was picked ahead of him after he spent most of the season in the injury reserves. Campbell had seen enough. He left the game mid-way against the Rams from the sidelines when he was asked to replace Greenlaw. That moment led to Campbell receiving a lot of heat from everyone associated with the Niners. The situation actually got so bad the 49ers suspended Campbell for the remainder of the season.
He was simply thrown out of the Bay Area because of undermining the organization. But for two months, he kept his silence on events that led to his exit from the Niners. Until today, in a series of expletive tweets, Campbell has just made his case worse in the eyes of the 49ers. When a fan was calling Campbell out for not being able to address the situation because he was the culprit. Campbell tried to clear his name by criticizing those around him. “I ain’t addressing s—. I’m rich and never have to work another day of my life, and I told Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch that when they FaceTime me and begged me to come out there an hour after Green Bay cut me I really be sparing n—— 🤫. I play because I WANT TO.”
I ain’t addressing shit. I’m rich and never have to work another day of my life and I told Kyle Shannahan and John Lynch that when they FaceTime me and begged me to come out there an hour after Green Bay cut me I really be sparing niggas 🤫. I play because I WANT TO. https://t.co/vZzcvJL35j
— De’Vondre Campbell (@Came_Along_Way) February 21, 2025
Maybe keeping himself above the organization wasn’t really a good choice for Campbell. It will surely make it harder for him to find a new home after how his chapter with the Niners ended. Because no one would want to get a player who clearly keeps himself ahead of his teammates and coaches. It’s never about a single individual on the gridiron. Yes, you were hurt because someone else took your job. But the way Campbell reacted could end his whole career in the NFL. And his boasting about being rich in his tweets only pours more cold water on his chances to continue playing at the top.
With that being said, the 49ers are already trying to bring some huge organizational changes before next season. Something Kyle Shanahan has not done since 2020 may help the Niners turn things around in 2025.
Kyle Shanahan is set to attend the NFL Scouting Combine
It’s been almost 5 years since Shanahan has not attended an NFL Scouting Combine. However, that streak could soon come to an end, as per the reports of Matt Barrows of The Athletic. He feels Shanahan could potentially be present at the combine in hopes of turning around a disappointing 6-11 season. See, the Niners hold the No.11 overall pick. It might not be too high for them to address certain gaps in their roster. But still, Shanahan and his coaching staff could scout a few potential draft picks whom they could select for next season. And there’s also a chance their general manager, John Lynch, could be speaking at the event.
He could take questions about the future of Brock Purdy and Deebo Samuel and certain areas of improvement in the squad. While Lynch could speak at the combine. There’s a growing feeling Kyle Shanahan would just be present to scout players. He would have no role in addressing the media. That’s something Lynch will only take care of.
So, it remains to be seen what the Niners could come up with in the next few weeks. Whatever the plan might be, it shouldn’t be less than their Super Bowl trips. Because that’s where the 49ers belong, and the expectations will be another Super Bowl run once the injuries are taken care of.