Aaron Donald, who played a spectacular 10-year career with the Rams, announced his retirement.
The unexpected declaration was made via social media on Friday by the three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Aaron Donald (99), a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams, poses before a game against the New York Giants on December 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, The Associated Press / N.J. Seth Weeing / AP file March 15, 2024, 10:48 AM PDT
By means of The Associated Press
Announced:
LOS ANGELES: After an exceptional ten years with the Los Angeles Rams, defensive tackle Aaron Donald has announced his retirement.
The unexpected declaration was made via social media on Friday by the three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Journey of Aaron Donald :
The Rams were where the 32-year-old Donald played his whole career.
who selected him in 2014’s first round. In addition to being chosen for eight All-Pro first teams and ten Pro Bowls, he was named the league’s best defensive player in 2017, 2018, and 2020.
In a statement, Donald stated, “Throughout my career, I have given everything to football—both mentally and physically—and I have dedicated 365 days a year to becoming the best player I possibly could be.” “I have the utmost respect for this game, and I consider myself fortunate to be able to wrap up my NFL career with the team that picked me. Few people are drafted by a team, play for that team until they retire, and win a world title. I won’t take that for granted, and I don’t .
On December 21, 2023, in Inglewood, California, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) is surrounded by his family prior to a game versus the New Orleans Saints. Ashley Landis / file from AP
Throughout his career, Donald, despite being smaller than many of the best defensive tackles, wreaked havoc on offenses with his exceptional athleticism and game sense. Throughout his career, he served as the cornerstone of the Rams defense, preventing his teammates from routinely facing double teams while still amassing a franchise-record 111 sacks, third most among active players.
After the Rams club relocated from St. Louis back to Los Angeles in 2016, Donald’s fame peaked. In 2018, he recorded a career-high 20 1/2 sacks while making his Super Bowl debut.
Three years later, he was crucial to the Rams’ march to the Super Bowl, most notably when he applied the pressure that forced Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow to throw incomplete at midfield on the Bengals’ game-winning play, which Los Angeles won 23-20.
J.J watt and Lawrence Taylor win defensive player of the year three times.
Donald’s contract was renegotiated over two years ago, and he was expected to make over $34 million this season. The Rams and Donald hadn’t openly admitted that his departure was a genuine possibility, despite reports that he had privately discussed retiring during the previous two seasons.
.LOS ANGELES announced his retirement.