When the Los Angeles Rams paid tribute to Aaron Donald‘s retirement on Friday evening, the headline on social media posts read “Quarterbacks rejoice.” There couldn’t be a more fitting way to summarize Donald’s dominance and disruption of the decade as one of the best interior defensive linemen in history. It’s a tale taken from the Arizona Cardinals’ Quarterback Kyler Murray, who faced Donald twice a year in the NFC West and unfortunately noted, “Thank God,” after escaping.
Since entering the NFL, challenging Aaron Donald’s impact has been daunting. After a standout collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh, Donald was unanimously selected 13th overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was drafted three times as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2018, 2020). He has won numerous awards like JJ Watt and Lawrence Taylor. He was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014 and an eight-time first-team All-Pro.
He has even achieved remarkable feats for defensive players – creating a Super Bowl-winning performance for his team. With just 43 seconds remaining in Super Bowl LV, Rams’ territory, facing a fourth-and-1, and attempting a desperate drive for a field goal in overtime, Donald passed the Bengals’ aggressive line and spanned the NFC Championship game to ensure victory. The drama mirrored almost verbatim the one that Donald orchestrated against Drew Brees’s Saints a few years earlier in Los Angeles, an iconic moment for Rams fans who came to LA years ago seeking identity, their signature moment. As the Rams celebrated their championship victory on home turf, tears welled in Donald’s eyes.
Perhaps Donald’s retirement won’t be as emulated as Quarterback Tom Brady’s, given their differing public profiles and the nature of their positions within the game. But Donald was no less stellar in his field and less criticized for the fate of his team than Brady.
Donald, in his retirement announcement, wrote, “Throughout my entire career, I’ve given football everything mentally and physically – dedicating myself 365 days a year to be the best player I could possibly be.” “I respect this game like no other, and I am grateful to end my NFL career with the same franchise that drafted me. Many don’t get drafted by a team, win a World Championship with that team, and retire with that team. I won’t take it for granted and never will.”
Like his predecessor, the Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp, Donald was an undersized prototype of his position, blending finesse, power, and explosion into a formidable and unique amalgamation that garnered success. While listed at 280 pounds, Donald occasionally played lighter, stating that he could play at a lesser weight sometimes. His pre-game routine primarily centered on honing his explosiveness from his three-point stance, allowing him to outmaneuver nearly 300-pound offensive linemen who were usually tasked, in vain, to stop him. He finished with 111 sacks, second only to the NFL sacks leader, Reggie White, after 1982, primarily leading the defensive tackles (behind John Randle) as the second-most prolific.
Donald was fearsome but not volatile; his game married with his humility. In his best years, it could be argued that Donald wasn’t just the best defensive player in the league, but overall the best player. Though he’d say otherwise – and others would too. His colleagues and competitors were awed by his skill and strength and admired his relentless work ethic.
Donald’s retirement on Friday wasn’t entirely unexpected – after winning Super Bowl LV in 2021, every offseason has involved at least some speculation about Donald’s future and anticipation of what’s included. Although the Chiefs’ Chris Jones might be considered the most disruptive 3-technique defensive tackle in the game now, Donald was still playing at such a high level – with 8 sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 2023 – that he left everyone else behind who wanted to play offense in the NFL.
Last season, at 32 years old, Donald earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 90.9, just behind Dexter Lawrence of the Giants, who was six years his junior, ranking 12th among all defenders in the league. Donald received a grade above 90 – distinguished in the PFF system – in each of his 10 seasons.
Donald’s production met with stability. He didn’t miss a game due to injury until 2022, and his departure leaves a void in Rams – their defense, their organization, and their community – where Donald’s AD99 Solution Foundation provides programming and assistance to underprivileged youth. On the field, second-year defensive tackle Kobe Turner, a third-round selection in 2023 (and a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year), is expected to fill Donald’s void. As a rookie, Turner broke the franchise rookie sack record.
In his announcement, D…
