The San Francisco 49ers found themselves in need of linebacker help following one devastating moment involving Dre Greenlaw.
With Greenlaw freakishly going down with a torn ACL in Super Bowl 58, the 49ers turned to veteran help in De’Vondre Campbell during free agency. It’s time to get to know the newest member of the S.F. linebacker room.
Who Is New 49ers Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell?
Campbell is an incoming nine-year veteran defender now with his fourth NFL stop.
But he hit his most success through his most recent stop, the Green Bay Packers. He earned his first All-Pro nod in 2021 by manning the right inside linebacker position in stellar fashion — producing a career-high 146 total tackles at that spot.
In the last two seasons, Campbell flipped over to the opposite inside ‘backer position. He started in a combined 24 games the last two seasons.
Campbell will be making a return to the NFC West. Before joining the Packers, he spent 2020 with the Arizona Cardinals with former head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
The 6’3″, 232-pounder first arrived in the NFL as a fourth-round selection to the Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Minnesota. He was the 115th player selected in that class which even featured a future 49ers teammate of his: Leonard Floyd, who went No. 9 overall to the Chicago Bears in that draft.
De’Vondre Campbell’s Contract Details
Again, Campbell is being lured in given the current uncertainty surrounding Greenlaw’s health ahead of 2024. This means a short-term deal with Campbell was a given.
San Francisco signed him to a one-year contract on March 15. The monetary details of his deal have yet to be released by Spotrac.
Outside of assuring the 49ers have another option if Greenlaw isn’t healthy for the season opener, there’s another reason behind the signing: Eric Kendricks spurning the 49ers for the Dallas Cowboys. Kendricks appeared set to join S.F. before turning to the NFC East champs — which allowed him to rejoin his former Minnesota Vikings head coach and new Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
However, this contract is far different from the major deal he once signed with Green Bay.
Campbell once agreed to a five-year, $50 million contract in 2022 following his breakout All-Pro season. That contract included a $15 million signing bonus and $10 million annually.
De’Vondre Campbell’s Career Stats
Campbell brings a strong history of playing multiple spots in the LB unit, perfect for a 49ers defense that’s had trouble with depth and health.
By lining up outside or inside, Campbell has tallied 779 total stops in his career. He’s delivered 507 solo tackles in his eight NFL seasons.
From 2017 to 2022, Campbell racked up more than 92 stops in every campaign. But in 2023, he settled for 75 tackles as he was limited to 11 games due to late-season knee and ankle injuries that arose in December.
Campbell does bring some pass-rushing skills to the room as well. He delivered six quarterback hits in 2017 and during his breakout ’21 season. He has 9.5 career sacks.
As a ball-hawk, Campbell has proven valuable in coverage with seven career interceptions — featuring three campaigns that saw him snatch two picks in 2019, 2021, and 2022. He’s forced eight career fumbles while pouncing on three.
Lastly, Campbell is a reliable starting presence wherever he’s gone. In 115 career games of action, he’s started in 110 of those contests. His reliability and versatility make him an underrated addition to the NFC champions on defense.
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