Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who made the game-sealing plays in Super Bowl LVI, is retiring from the NFL at 32. Donald announced his decision on social media.
“For 10 years, I have been fortunate to play the game at the highest level,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I’m thankful for the people I have met along the way, the relationships I have built and the things I have accomplished with my teammates and individually.”
Cheers to what’s next. Extending a big thank you to the Rams and all of the fans for your support over these last 10 years. Much love. 🍾🙏🏽💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/edGxkUYdLz
— AD_99 (@AaronDonald97) March 15, 2024
Donald will not only go down in history as one of the sport’s best-ever defensive linemen, but one of its best players. His unique combination of strength and speed — which often belied a 6-foot-1, 280-pound frame — was a constant distress for offensive linemen and a marvel to teammates and other defensive players league-wide. The detail and vast combinations of moves with which Donald pass-rushed, in particular, drew comparisons in later years to artists and elite technicians.
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Donald, a Pittsburgh native and All-American defensive tackle at Pitt — the university whose athletic training facilities are now named after him — was drafted by the Rams in 2014 at pick No. 13.
The pick number turned out to be a lucky one for both the Rams and Donald.
Over the next 10 seasons, Donald earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors from the Associated Press in 2014, was eventually voted to the Pro Bowl 10 times, was an AP All-Pro eight times and won the AP’s Defensive Player of the Year honors three times. Donald also anchored the Rams in their move back to Los Angeles from St. Louis, and into the Sean McVay era beginning in 2017. He is one of the highest-paid defensive players in NFL history, with about $160 million in career earnings — including a record-breaking $135 million extension signed in 2018.
Donald is the Rams’ sack leader (of the modern NFL’s recording of that statistic), with 111 career sacks. Only legendary players Deacon Jones (159 1/2) and Jack Youngblood (151 1/2) recorded more sacks as Rams defensive linemen.
In 10 seasons, all with the Rams, Donald also recorded 543 tackles (176 tackles for loss), 260 quarterback hits, 24 forced fumbles and 23 batted/defensed passes. Known alongside his pass-rushing ability and athleticism for his remarkable durability, Donald didn’t miss a game specifically due to injury until 2022 (he missed two games in 2017 because of a contract holdout). In 2022, he played through a high ankle sprain suffered early in a Week 12 loss to Kansas City — an injury that ultimately required surgery.
Off the field, Donald’s “AD99 Solutions” foundation (based in Pittsburgh) has provided resources, camps and mental/physical programming to youth in vulnerable populations since 2019. The organization cites 450 hours of annual programming at no cost to families, across 34 states.
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During his time in the NFL, Donald was known as a player of few words — though always had a laugh and a joke for teammates and coaches.
Few will forget, though, the emotional leader he became during the Rams’ Super Bowl run through the end of the 2021 season. Donald rallied teammates on the sidelines and in the locker room with emotional speeches through the postseason. In the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVI, Donald’s tackle of Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine on third-and-1 set up a must-pass down for quarterback Joe Burrow. As some teammates watched, and others hid their eyes, and McVay muttered through his headset that Donald would make a play — he did. Donald sacked Burrow on fourth-and-1 to end the game and secure the Rams’ championship in their home stadium.
Donald did a lap around the field, pointing to his ring finger, tears pouring down his cheeks as the blue-and-gold confetti fell.
“Ring me!” he shouted. “Ring me!!”
Required reading
(Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
