As children, we all dreamed of being something special. But only a few lucky people get to live the way they dreamed of, and 49ers LB De’Vondre Campbell is one of those.
As a fifth grader, Campbell told his mother that he would go to college and become an NFL player. Fast forward to today, and he is one of the best NFL players in the league.
Highlights
- De’Vondre Campbell was born on 1 July 1993, in Fort Myers, Florida. His parents are Cathryn Campbell and Luther Campbell. He has one sibling, a sister named Sheretta Campbell.
- Campbell did not play in any youth football clubs because his parents wanted him to focus on his studies.
- Campbell’s mother, Cathryn Campbell, is a breast cancer survivor. She also suffered a heart attack in 2015 while attending one of her son’s college games.
49ers linebacker Campbell has been making headlines after he refused to play in a game against the Los Angeles Rams on 12 December 2024. This happened during a season-crushing loss for the 49ers.
Campbell, a veteran player, was upset after being taken out from the starting lineup due to the return of teammate Dre Greenlaw.
When Greenlaw got injured in the third quarter of the game, Campbell refused to go in.
And this upset his teammates and as per reports his spot on the team is at risk. Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Campbell’s refusal after the game.
The coach said, “He said he didn’t want to play today.” As reported by NBC Sports Bay Area, Shanahan said, “We’re working through the semantics of exactly how to deal with it.”
“His actions from the game are not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still be a part of our team.”
Kyle Shanahan
De’Vondre Campbell Was Raised By Cathryn And Luther Campbell In Fort Myers, Florida
Growing up in Harlem Heights, Florida, De’Vondre Campbell dreamed of becoming an NFL player when he was in fifth grade.
The young Campbell told his mother, Cathryn Campbell, that he’d go to college and be an NFL player.
Campbell answered, “If that’s your dream, go to school, graduate, and get a degree first.”
And the linebacker followed his mom’s instructions. He didn’t play on an organized team as a youth and focused on school.
The Florida-born football player, known as ‘Diesel’ in his neighborhood, had an interesting path to football.
During his freshman year at Cypress Lake High School, he didn’t play sports until Justin Major encouraged him to try football, saying, “You’re way better at football. Try that. You’re fast for your size.”
The NFL linebacker also had a growth spurt, going from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2, which made him more suited for football.
Coach Mike Thornton saw his potential and started him at defensive end before moving him to linebacker, where he excelled.
One of Campbell’s standout moments was during a track meet where he ran neck-and-neck with future NFL player Sammy Watkins in the 200-meter dash.
This race showed everyone how fast De’Vondre was, boosting his confidence and helping him become a better football player.
The Florida native first went to Hutchinson Community College in Kansas for a year.
He then transferred to the University of Minnesota and played football from 2013 to 2015.
The former Green Bay Packers player’s impressive college performance caught the attention of NFL scouts, and he was drafted into the NFL in 2016.
Just after the Atlanta Falcons drafted De’Vondre in the fourth round, his mother, Cathryn, had a question.
She asked him, “Do you want to keep the number you’ve been playing with (26)?” De’Vondre replied, “I have a number in mind.”
When Cathryn asked what number, Campbell said, “Number 59.” After leaving the draft party, Cathryn thought about the number and realized it was the year she was born 1959.
Campbell’s sister, Sheretta Campbell, called him to confirm, and Cathryn was moved to tears.
As reported by News-Press, he told her:
“You’ve been supporting me all these years, and that’s why I’m wearing that number, to remind me of you.”
De’Vondre Campbell
Though Cathryn has always been her son’s biggest fan, she couldn’t always be there due to her health issues.
She survived breast cancer and had a heart attack in 2015 while on her way to one of De’Vondre’s games in Minneapolis.
When times were tough at home, De’Vondre Campbell’s father, Luther Campbell, helped to maintain stable circumstances.
The NFL player’s father worked in maintenance for the Boston Red Sox’s spring training team in Fort Myers, Florida, which allowed De’Vondre to focus on his goals.
The San Francisco 49ers linebacker always appreciates the support from his family.
Even his coach, Jerry Kill at Kansas State, also recognized the influence of his family.
The coach Jerry Kill said, “Meeting his family tells you a lot. You can tell he is a good kid.”
Additional Information
- De’Vondre Campbell’s total career earnings amount to $39,173,318 according to Spotrac and his net worth is estimated to be around $39 million.
- He signed a 1-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March 2024, valued at $5,000,000, with a base salary of $1,210,000, a signing bonus of $3,350,000, and a workout bonus of $100,000.
- De’Vondre Campbell has been married to his wife, Nicole Campbell, since 2021. They have been together since 2014. They have three children, A’mari, A’vaya, and Kash.
