NFL players who quit mid-game, from De’Vondre Campbell to Antonio Brown

NFL players who quit mid-game, from De’Vondre Campbell to Antonio Brown

It’s a rare but wild situation for everyone involved: A player suddenly leaves the team in the middle of an NFL game and goes to the locker room.

The head coach is at a loss for words – or even very strong words – and the teammates are usually angry, and rightly so.

Well, as of publication, this is the fourth documented time this has happened, with San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell apparently refusing to get back into a game on a Thursday night in Week 15 of the 2024 season. Later in the competition he went to the locker room.

Who else took this step? Let’s go through them:

Mike Wallace

November 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The receiver was with the Dolphins in 2014 and apparently refused to take the field and was benched. Wallace denied this and played more in the NFL throughout the year.

Vontae Davis

September 16, 2018; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive back Vontae Davis (22) and defensive back Micah Hyde (23) celebrate their stop on third down in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The late cornerback pulled out of a Buffalo Bills game in 2018 and essentially retired at that point. It was something teammates talked about afterward.

Antonio Brown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown (81) on the field before the game against the New York Jets in the second half at MetLife Stadium.

In 2022, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout took off his top and danced off the field against the New York Jets. That was it for the receiver with the Bucs and in the NFL.

De’Vondre Campbell

The Niners linebacker refused to go into the game against the Rams and went to the locker room in the fourth quarter.

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