Falcons 'Didn't Understand!' Ex LB De'Vondre Campbell Reflects on Atlanta Tenure

De'Vondre Campbell, now a starting linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, had a strong four-year run with the Atlanta Falcons after being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

During his time with the Falcons, Campbell played in 59 games with 54 starts, recording 363 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles before departing for the Arizona Cardinals after the 2019 season.

But in Campbell's eyes, his tenure in Atlanta wasn't all positive, particularly with his perceived lack of value by the organization and how he was treated by fans down the stretch.

Campbell, 30, sent a series of tweets reflecting on his four seasons with the Dirty Birds after a back-and-forth interaction with a fan, noting that Atlanta hasn't made the playoffs since he left and pointing out that the value of both he and cornerback Brian Poole weren't recognized.

"They just didn’t understand how important me and (Poole) were to that defense," Campbell tweeted. "I called both of us the “garbage men” - we did all the dirty work and never got credit for it. They thought we were replaceable and (have) been chasing players like us ever since. All facts."

Campbell later added that he was a part of two playoff teams in Atlanta, one of which being the 2016 squad that lost in Super Bowl LI, just the second such appearance on the sport's biggest stage in franchise history.

As for the off-field aspect, Campbell estimated that between 20 to 30 percent of fans were truly supportive of him before adding a reason as to why the rest were not.

"They didn’t understand how important I was and how much money I saved that team over my 4 years," Campbell tweeted.

Since leaving Atlanta, Campbell has found success elsewhere, logging 99 tackles with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 before earning All-Pro honors as a member of the Packers a year later.

Last March, Campbell signed a five-year, $50-million contract with the Packers and mentioned in another tweet that he loves the organization, citing that how he's treated is "second to none."

But don't get it twisted - Campbell is still thankful for his time in Atlanta ...

"The Falcons will always have a special place in my heart," Campbell tweeted. "They made a lifelong dream of mines come true and I can never forget that. To all the fans that appreciated me while I was there, I will always love (you all) forever. Much love and respect from No. 59."

Campbell will get to play in front of Falcons fans for the first time since leaving in free agency when the Packers travel to Atlanta for a Week 2 contest, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. EST on Sept. 17.

And if Campbell's most recent tweets are any indication, he's sure to have mixed emotions when walking back onto the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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