Both Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers couldn’t be happier for Green Bay Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who – in one of the biggest surprises of the 2021 season – was named a first-team All-Pro after a terrific first year in Green Bay.
Signed to a one-year deal in June and playing on his third team in as many seasons, Campbell emerged as a legitimate difference-making player for Joe Barry’s defense, and voters at the Associated Press recognized his efforts with his first career All-Pro selection.
Rodgers said the locker room erupted when LaFleur read off Campbell’s name as a first-team pick last week.
“It was exciting,” Rodgers said Tuesday. “For him, and what he went through, really not being wanted by a lot of teams, people feeling like he lost a step and didn’t have it anymore…”
Campbell went from afterthought to All-Pro. On his official Instagram page, Campbell said he “almost cried” when LaFleur read off his name.
Rodgers said everyone in the locker room was “hooting and hollering for him.”
LaFleur, who first met Campbell as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Falcons, was nothing if not proud for the sixth-year linebacker.
“That was awesome. Those are the type of moments you live for as a coach,” LaFleur said. “To see someone who works so hard at his craft, who has added so much to this team, not only on the field, that’s obviously for everybody to see, but what he brings to our locker room, just to our mentality, not only our defense but our entire football team. He’s been a big pickup for us. He’s a big reason as to why we’ve had the year we’ve had defensively.”
Campbell, in his first season with the Packers, quickly became a well-known defender nationally and a beloved figure in Green Bay.
“We love him. He’s such a great dude. We’ve been such an important part of what we’re doing here,” Rodgers said.
Campbell delivered a career-best 146 tackles over 16 games, and he finished as the second-highest graded linebacker at Pro Football Focus. With his size and speed, Campbell clogged up running lanes and disrupted the passing game from the inside linebacker spot.
The journey was a long one. Campbell said he set big goals for himself after playing injured during much of the 2020 season with the Arizona Cardinals, and at the top of the list was making first-team All-Pro. Check.
Right away, the Packers made Green Bay feel like home for Campbell, and the impact results on the field followed.
“He said, ‘From Day 1, you guys made me feel important and special and a part of something special.’ And that got to me,” Rodgers said. “That moment definitely got me because it’s so important to myself and our leadership and the culture we’ve tried to create to make guys feel important, make guys feel special, make guys feel like they are a part of something. I feel like that’s an underrated part of chemistry and culture that equates to winning. For him to say that, was really cool to hear.”
Campbell’s terrific play helped the Packers finish 13-4, win the NFC North title for the third straight season and clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
“Thank you to all my teammates, coaching staff, my support system and lastly the Packers for giving me an opportunity when a lot of people gave up on me,” Campbell wrote on Instagram. “I told y’all you wouldn’t regret it. Thank you.”
