Defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams looks on ahead of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, U.S., January 7, 2024. /AP
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams announced his retirement from the National Football League (NFL) at 32 on Friday after playing 10 seasons in the league.
"Throughout my career, I have given my everything to football both mentally and physically – 365 days a year was dedicated to becoming the best possible player I could be," Donald posted on X. "I respected this game like no other and I'm blessed to be able to conclude my NFL career with the same franchise that drafted me. Not many people get drafted to a team, win a World Championship with that team and retire with that team. I do not, and will not, take that for granted."
Donald posted a total of 111 sacks, 340 tackles and 260 quarterback (QB) hits in 154 games of his career. He never missed the Pro Bowl in any of the 10 seasons and was selected into the First-team All-Pro eight times. He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in his rookie season in 2014 and the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) three times in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald (#99) of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, U.S., February 13, 2022. /AP
Since the DPOY award was first awarded in 1971, only three players in league history have won it three times. The other two were linebacker Lawrence Taylor and defensive end J.J. Watt. Moreover, according to ESPN, Donald also joined Taylor to become the second defensive player who was selected into the Pro Bowl in each of their first 10 seasons since the NFL merged with the American Football league (AFL) in 1970.
On February 13, 2022, Donald helped the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to win the title. He had two sacks, three solo tackles and three QB hits in that game.
"The great players in our league elevate the people around them and Aaron has modeled the way for our team as long as I've been with the Rams," the Rams' head coach Sean McVay said in a statement. "He's an elite competitor, someone who leads by example in a way that's authentic to him, and an exceptional teammate who inspires everyone around him to be the best version of themselves."