The 2024 season was a disaster for the San Francisco 49ers for a variety of reasons. The team was a disappointment on both ends of the field, but the defensive struggles were the biggest reason for how the team went from making the Super Bowl to finishing 6-11.
The disappointing campaign eventually took a toll on the team as the season progressed. Things hit a new low in Week 15 when De'Vondre Campbell refused to enter the game against the Rams and decided to go to the locker room instead.
This was understandably met with a ton of criticism by his teammates, coaches, and fans. As a result, the 49ers suspended him for the remainder of the season.
On Monday, NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported that the 49ers officially lifted the suspension.
#49ers lifted suspension of linebacker De'Vondre Campbell
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 11, 2025
NFL News: 49ers Lift De'Vondre Campbell's Suspension
This will almost certainly have no impact on the veteran linebacker's future in San Francisco. The 31-year-old is slated to become a free agent this offseason and there is absolutely no appetite among the fanbase or within the organization to bring him back.
Whether another team will have the appetite to do so, however, remains to be seen.
NFL teams have certainly signed players who have done far worse things than Campbell. As long as the player can contribute on the field, teams in the league are experts at ignoring everything else. And Campbell can still play.
He is obviously not the same player he was when he was an All-Pro defender in Green Bay, but Campbell was a totally serviceable option in his 12 starts in San Francisco last year.
At the same time, Campbell has proven himself to be a big locker room headache. Is bringing him in for a one-year deal and risk ruining the vibes on the team worth it?
For most teams, probably not. Yet, all it takes is one team to talk themselves into it. What the future holds for Campbell will be fascinating to watch, but every Niner fan is happy that their future will not include Campbell.