The Los Angeles Rams — and the league as a whole — will be without one of their top defensive players next season.
Superstar DT Aaron Donald recently announced his retirement after a decade of defensive dominance.
He was a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the year, a 10-time Pro-Bowler, an eight-time First-Team All-Pro, and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Donald dominated the scene like no other defensive player in the last decade.
That’s why a fellow great defensive mind in Mike Tomlin wasn’t going to let him go unappreciated.
The Pittsburgh Steelers coach took to Twitter to congratulate Donald on his amazing career.
Congratulations @AaronDonald97 on an amazing career. You are first class in every way.
— Mike Tomlin (@CoachTomlin) March 16, 2024
Donald will walk away from the game with the second-most sacks among defensive tackles (111), trailing only John Randle.
He holds the Rams’ franchise record in sacks, and is one of just three players to win Defensive Player of the Year three times, joining J.J. Watt and the legendary Lawrence Taylor.
He’s also on the same list as Taylor as the only two defensive players to get a Pro Bowl selection in each and every single one of their first ten seasons in the league.
Donald also joined Barry Sanders as the only two players in league history to make it to a Pro Bowl in each season they played in the league.
The legendary defensive tackle came back for more after mulling retirement two years ago, and while he struggled with injuries in 2022, he was as dominant as usual last season, helping Sean McVay’s team get back to the playoffs.
NEXT: Mike Greenberg Questions Kenny Pickett Over Trade Request
