De'Vondre Campbell signs with 49ers and then unloads on the Packers organization, says coaches made him look 'clueless' on the field

When the Green Bay Packers released De'Vondre Campbell last week after three up-and-down seasons, he not only was free to sign with any team but he also felt he was finally free to speak his mind about his experience.

And did he ever.

It's certainly not new for ex-players to air dirty laundry and Campbell did provide a glimpse into his frustrations in a tweet last December. But over the weekend, he went into greater detail, saying the team didn't use him effectively or listen to him enough, he lost respect for some coaches and he wasn't happy about how the team handled his release.

The social media blitz of comments started Friday when the 30-year-old linebacker wrote on Instagram that "someone is about to get a great football player that’s been badly misused."

That "someone" is now the San Francisco 49ers, who signed Campbell that day to a one-year contract.

"There’s so much I could say but for the longest I just kept it to myself and kept taking the blame," Campbell later tweeted Friday during a firestorm of posts in reply to fans.

He's certainly not staying quiet anymore.

What set him off on X (formerly Twitter) was when a user provided a clip of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield torching the Packers defense last season, sarcastically implying that Campbell's own shortcomings were the reason.

"All year I was out there tryna make people right because they were busting coverages and run fits," Campbell wrote back.

The Packers defense experienced its fair share of struggles in 2023, like it did in 2022 when stopping the run was a glaring issue. And its passing coverage was exposed when Mayfield threw for 381 yards, four touchdowns and a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field. A week later, Carolina scored a season-high 30 points against the Packers. There were signs of improvement in the final two games of the regular season and into the playoffs but that wasn't enough for defensive coordinator Joe Barry to keep his job and a few members of the defense were either not re-signed or were cut like Campbell.

"You wanna know why we played better???" Campbell rhetorically asked one commenter, referencing games against Minnesota, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco. "Because I started going and having private meetings with (head coach) Matt (LaFleur) telling him we needed to be more aggressive. We needed more man and we needed to blitz more and what happened when they listened to me. WE PLAYED WELL AND WON ITS NO COINCIDENCE."

Campbell signed with the Packers before the 2021 season and earned his first all-pro honor of his career. He led the team in tackles and tied for the lead in forced fumbles. The Packers rewarded the then-28-year-old with a five-year contract worth $50 million.

Since then, Campbell hasn't been as effective. His production dipped each season and injuries have cropped up. He missed 10 games over the last two seasons.

Besides injuries, what changed from 2021 to 2022 and 2023 in his eyes?

"I tried to be a team guy and play within the system and do what they asked," Campbell wrote when asked. He said this included being "more visual on QB and not look up routes. Back up from (line of scrimmage) so I’m not pressing every WR or TE.

"Look at what happened. They had me, Quay (Walker) out there looking clueless," Campbell added.

Does he give the coaches credit in that 2021 season when he was thriving? No.

"Listen, if I would’ve listened to half the stuff they were telling me I would’ve NEVER went all pro," Campbell wrote. "All year all I heard was “Can you do this? It’ll help the scheme” I kept saying no all year and look what happened. First Team All-Pro."

Despite his grievances, Campbell called the Packers the "best organization" he's ever been a part of. Campbell previously played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and one with the Arizona Cardinals.

Nevertheless, his problems center on coaches that he didn't name.

"It’s some coaches I lost ALL respect for," Campbell wrote.

"I tried my best to help the organization win but it’s hard to win when you aren’t willing to evolve," Campbell added to another commenter. "When my coaches aren’t willing to listen to feedback that can make us better as a team there isn’t much I can do. All I can say is that I tried my best."

He also didn't like with how he was treated on the way out.

"The organization didn’t even call me to ask if I wanted to take a pay cut," Campbell wrote. "They just released me after going in the media and saying me and Aaron jones were a part of the future plans. They could’ve just told me the truth. I could easily be bitter but I’m not."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: De'Vondre Campbell blasts Packers organization in social media blitz