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With 10 Pro Bowls, three DPOY honors, and a Super Bowl-clinching performance, Donald’s career ranks amongst the greatest ever.
Years from now, Los Angeles Rams fans will sit back in their rocking chairs, reminiscing and educating their grandkids on just how great Aaron Donald was during his time. On the flip side, the many quarterbacks he tormented during his time will never forget the feeling of having to lead an offense knowing that No. 99 was standing in their way.
CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo ranked the 25 greatest players in NFL history, with the former Rams legend coming in at No. 15 on the list. He was the fifth-highest-ranked defensive player behind Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, Dick Butkus, and Ray Lewis.
If someone was to make a case for Donald as the greatest defensive player in league history, they wouldn’t get an argument here. A three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Donald was an All-Pro eight times in a nine-year stretch from 2015-23 and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams before hanging up his cleats last offseason. Donald’s sheer will helped the Rams come back to defeat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
Drafted by the Rams 13th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, Donald instantly made his presence felt during his rookie season. The former Unanimous All-American from Pittsburgh recorded 48 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles in his first season and was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Rams knew right then and there that this was no ordinary pick but instead a franchise cornerstone.
Fast forward 10 seasons, and Donald solidified himself as not only one of the greatest defenders but rather one of the greatest players to ever strap on a helmet. Over his illustrious 10-year NFL career, Donald recorded 543 tackles, 176 tackles for loss, 111 sacks, the most in team history, 258 pressures, and 24 forced fumbles.
His career accolades include being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times in his career (2017, 2018, and 2020). Was named a Pro Bowler in all 10 seasons, an eight-time first-team All-Pro, selected to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, and was named to the NFL’s Top 100 list for nine consecutive seasons (2015-2023), including a No. 1 ranking in 2019.
The high point of the future Hall of Famer’s career was helping lead the Rams to a Super Bowl title in 2021 over the Cincinnati Bengals 20-17 in a game that came down to the wire. Bengals QB Joe Burrow had an open Jamar Chase down the field on a 4th-and-1 pass play with 43 seconds left for what all likely could have been the game-winning touchdown, that is until Donald delivered the game-ending sack and securing the second world title in team history and the first in L.A.
Despite retiring in his prime following the 2023 season, No. 99 left a legacy on the field. It also put a smile on the faces of opposing offensive coordinators, linemen, and quarterbacks who no longer have to deal with the defensive stalwart.
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