Earlier this offseason, it looked like Aaron Donald would be returning for another season with the Los Angeles Rams, but last week, he announced his retirement.
He played 10 seasons, all of them with the Los Angeles Rams, and he put together quite a resume that will land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as soon as he’s eligible.
Donald said the reason he’s retiring is that he’s content with his accomplishments and that he doesn’t have the passion or the urge to push himself through yet another season.
“I’m complete. I’m full,” Donald said.
coming soon 🎬 #rams #ad99 #ready #retirement #ddg pic.twitter.com/ozh8QDs0j7
— AD_99 (@AaronDonald97) March 20, 2024
Donald played defensive tackle, yet he was always one of the NFL’s best pass rushers, and seeing him pursue an opposing quarterback was a fearsome sight, especially for fans of the team the Rams were facing in a particular game.
The No. 13 pick in the 2014 draft, he made the Pro Bowl in each of his seasons, and he was also named to eight All-Pro First Teams while winning the Defensive Player of the Year award three times.
As the Rams added pieces on both sides of the football over the years, they reached the Super Bowl in the 2018 season, where they lost to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but in 2021, they put together a dream season.
They went all-in, trading for star quarterback Matthew Stafford and linebacker Von Miller, which was enough for them to win it all.
Donald had four tackles (three solo), three QB hits, 2.0 sacks, and two tackles for loss in Super Bowl LVI, which led some to argue he deserved the MVP of the game.
But as he said, his career is complete, and he has retired as one of the very best ever to play his position.
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