De’Vondre Campbell is an American professional football linebacker who has built a durable and productive career across multiple NFL franchises. Born on July 1, 1993, in Fort Myers, Florida, Campbell played college football at Hutchinson Community College and the University of Minnesota before being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Over his career, Campbell has played for the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers, establishing himself as a reliable and versatile linebacker known for his tackling ability and leadership on defense. He earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2021 with the Green Bay Packers, becoming the first Packers inside linebacker to achieve this distinction since Ray Nitschke in 1966.
De’Vondre Campbell Bio
Campbell has been a consistent presence in the NFL since entering the league in 2016. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 232 pounds, he has played various linebacker positions including weakside, strongside, and inside linebacker throughout his career. His durability has been a hallmark, often logging significant snaps and leading his teams in tackles during key seasons. Campbell’s journey from a junior college player to a First-team All-Pro demonstrates his growth and persistence in the competitive NFL landscape.
Early Life and Background
De’Vondre Campbell grew up in Fort Myers, Florida, where he attended Cypress Lake High School. His high school career helped him develop into a three-star recruit, laying the foundation for his transition to collegiate football.
College Career at Minnesota
Campbell began his college football journey at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas during the 2012 season. He then transferred to the University of Minnesota, where he played for the Golden Gophers from 2013 to 2015. In his sophomore season of 2013, Campbell recorded 39 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. His junior year in 2014 saw him improve significantly with 75 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception, and three fumble recoveries. Campbell’s senior season in 2015 was his most productive collegiate year, as he recorded 92 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles. His consistent performance at Minnesota positioned him as a legitimate NFL prospect.
De’Vondre Campbell Career
Atlanta Falcons (2016-2019)
The Atlanta Falcons selected De’Vondre Campbell in the fourth round with the 115th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $2.90 million shortly after being drafted. During training camp, Campbell competed for the starting weakside linebacker position and won the job, earning a spot alongside Deion Jones and Vic Beasley in the Falcons’ defensive lineup. Campbell made his professional debut and first career start in the season-opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Campbell’s rookie season showed promise despite an ankle injury that sidelined him for four games. He recorded a season-high 10 combined tackles in Week 7 against the San Diego Chargers and recorded his first career interception in a victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Campbell finished his rookie year with 48 combined tackles, seven passes defensed, a forced fumble, and an interception in 11 games with 10 starts. The Falcons finished 11-5 and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs. Campbell started in all three playoff games including the NFC Divisional Round victory over the Seattle Seahawks, the NFC Championship win against the Green Bay Packers, and Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots.
Campbell transitioned to strongside linebacker in 2017 and recorded his first career sack on Aaron Rodgers during a Week 2 victory over the Packers. He posted a season-high 13 combined tackles in a win against the Dallas Cowboys and started all 16 games, finishing with 92 tackles, four pass deflections, and two sacks. In 2018, Campbell led the team with 94 combined tackles while adding 1.5 sacks and an interception. He recorded a team-high 17 tackles in a loss to the Tennessee Titans and also forced a fumble on Matt Breida during a victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Campbell completed his Falcons tenure having played 45 games with 38 starts across three seasons.
Arizona Cardinals (2020)
Campbell signed with the Arizona Cardinals on April 3, 2020, on a one-year contract. He became an immediate starter for the Cardinals defense, playing all 16 games with 16 starts. Campbell recorded 99 tackles, which ranked third on the team, along with 2.0 sacks and his first sack of the season on Tua Tagovailoa during a Week 9 loss to the Miami Dolphins. His single season with Arizona demonstrated his ability to adapt to a new defensive system while maintaining his high tackle production.
Green Bay Packers (2021-2023)
Campbell joined the Green Bay Packers on June 9, 2021, signing with the team as a free agent. He was named the starting inside linebacker alongside Krys Barnes and quickly made an impact. In Week 2, Campbell recorded an interception off Lions quarterback Jared Goff in a victory over the Detroit Lions. He caught his second interception of the season on the first play of overtime in a win against the Cincinnati Bengals, picking off Joe Burrow. Campbell earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October, recording 45 total tackles, one sack, one interception, and two forced fumbles across five wins during that month.
On January 14, 2022, Campbell was named a First-team member of the 2021 All-Pro Team, becoming the first Packers inside linebacker to achieve this honor since Ray Nitschke in 1966. He finished the 2021 season as Pro Football Focus’s second-highest graded linebacker in the entire NFL. Campbell signed a five-year contract worth $50 million with the Packers in March 2022. During the 2022 season, Campbell scored his first NFL touchdown on a 63-yard interception return during a Week 7 loss to the Washington Commanders. The Packers released Campbell on March 13, 2024, ending his three-season tenure in Green Bay.
San Francisco 49ers (2024)
Campbell signed with the San Francisco 49ers on March 18, 2024, joining the team on a one-year contract. He filled in as the starting linebacker for the injured Dre Greenlaw, starting 12 of the 49ers’ first 13 games. Campbell’s season with San Francisco took a controversial turn in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Rams. With Greenlaw returning from injury and Dee Winters also dealing with an injury, the team asked Campbell to enter the game. Campbell refused and left for the locker room in the second half as the 49ers lost 12-6. His decision drew criticism from teammates, coaches, and media. Head coach Kyle Shanahan stated that refusing to play is not acceptable behavior toward teammates. On December 16, 2024, the 49ers suspended Campbell for the remainder of the season.
De’Vondre Campbell Career Stats and Achievements
Throughout his NFL career, De’Vondre Campbell has established himself as a productive and consistent linebacker. His career highlights include being named a First-team All-Pro in 2021 and earning NFC Defensive Player of the Month in October 2021. Campbell has logged significant playing time across 144 career regular season games, demonstrating his durability and reliability.
Career Statistics
Campbell has recorded 858 career total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 7 interceptions, 8 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 30 pass deflections, and 1 defensive touchdown. His single-season high of 99 tackles came during his 2020 season with the Arizona Cardinals. In 2021 with the Packers, Campbell led the team in tackles and earned First-team All-Pro recognition. His 63-yard interception return for a touchdown against Washington in 2022 remains one of the memorable highlights of his career.
De’Vondre Campbell Family
De’Vondre Campbell was born on July 1, 1993, in Fort Myers, Florida. He attended Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers, Florida, before advancing his football career at Hutchinson Community College and the University of Minnesota. Campbell maintains an active presence on social media with his Instagram account and X (formerly Twitter) handle. Further details about his family, spouse, or children have not been publicly disclosed.
2024 Season Review
The 2024 season marked a challenging chapter in De’Vondre Campbell’s career. After joining the San Francisco 49ers in March, Campbell served as a key replacement for the injured Dre Greenlaw, starting 12 of the team’s first 13 games. His contributions helped the 49ers maintain defensive stability during a difficult stretch of the season. However, the season ended on a significant controversy. During the Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Campbell refused to enter the game when summoned by coaches, leading to widespread criticism. The 49ers organization responded by suspending him for the remainder of the season on December 16, 2024.