Did Campbell Quit NFL Because Of Burnout?

We don’t know for sure why San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell was making his decision to walk away from the NFL. We do know that he’s not the first athlete to depart from their sport in the midst of their prime playing years. And we also know that no one else did so in the manner he did, refusing to enter a game against the Los Angeles Rams when asked to by head coach Kyle Shanahan.

On the surface, it goes against every credo of team sport. 

"It's one person making a selfish decision," 49ers tight end George Kittle told CBS Sports. "I've never been around anybody that's ever done that, and I hope I'm never around anybody who does that again."

That’s the simplest explanation and the obvious go-to for pro athletes who’ve been conditioned to play at all costs. However, since we haven’t heard from Campbell, no one can say for certain his reasoning for calling it quits. 

A factor that is certain is that burnout is becoming a serious issue among elite athletes, and even world-class athletes are being affected. Many experts are citing the decision to specialize in a sport at a young age as playing a role in this burnout effect. 

Look at women’s tennis, for example. World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty quit the game at the age of 25. 

“I think there was probably a normal fear or uncertainty in not knowing what my life would look like after tennis after being so focused,” Barty admitted to the New York Times. 

“What’s been most surprising in a good way is that I’ve slipped quite seamlessly into this life that’s just like everyone else, which is kind of always what I wanted.”

Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova and Bianca Andreescu are other top players who took mental health breaks from the game. Andreescu, for one, cited the loss of her love for the game. 

Until we hear it from Campbell, we won’t know for certain his reasons for leaving football. Burnout, though, is becoming a major factor today in sport at all levels. It’s a significant cause for kids leaving the playing field. And let’s remember, less than one percent of all kids who play sports will ever play that sport for a living. But even the lucky ones who do get to live the dream aren’t immune from burnout. 

You can have too much, even when it turns out to be a good thing. 

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