The 49ers suspended linebacker De’Vondre Campbell for the rest of the season after he refused to play Thursday night, and coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledges that in retrospect he wishes he had never brought Campbell to San Francisco in the first place.
Playing for the Packers last year, Campbell seemed disgruntled, and when Green Bay cut him this offseason, he angered the team. Shanahan was asked today if the 49ers had considered these issues before signing him. Shanahan said the 49ers were aware of the red flags with Campbell but were desperate for a linebacker after Dre Greenlaw tore his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl.
“Yes, of course,” Shanahan replied. “We investigate all that. It was tough losing Dre. We knew we would need a starting caliber linebacker. We had two guys that we thought we signed but lost in free agency. Then another guy was fired and became available.”
Shanahan said his own experience with Campbell on the Falcons and conversations he had with others around the league who knew Campbell made him think everything would work out.
“I was with De’Vondre in his rookie year in Atlanta, so I knew what he was capable of,” Shanahan said. “Not that I was super close with the defensive guys, because I was the offensive coordinator there, but I know we liked him in that building. I know a lot of guys that have coached him that have been good. And we clearly made a mistake.” It’s not something we haven’t looked at. We investigate everything. You weigh the risks and benefits of things. You weigh the situation you have and what decision you can make in terms of the options first option. But at the time, with what was happening, we thought this was our best option. And it didn’t work.”
It certainly didn’t work for the 49ers, and it can serve as a cautionary tale for any team considering signing a player who has worn out his welcome at his last stop.
