Super Bowl winner Aaron Donald plays as a defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the year is currently one of the best in the league. Aaron Donald is considered to be the best interior pass rusher in the league right now, and perhaps the best pass rusher. His ability to generate as much pressure as he does from the defensive tackle position is what makes him excellent.
Donald was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in the Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighbourhood. He attended Penn Hills High School and started as a defensive tackle and also as an offensive guard. He committed to the University of Pittsburgh and played 13 games in his freshman year, as a backup defensive tackle. He transitioned to starter by his sophomore year and by his senior year, Donald was one of the best defensive players in the NCAA. He was named as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and was also a unanimous All-American.
Aaron Donald was one of the best rated defensive prospects of the 2014 NFL Draft. He had already set the record for the fastest 40-yard dash by a defensive tackle in the NFL Combine (4.68 seconds). The Los Angeles Rams (St. Louis Rams at that time) drafted Aaron Donald in the first round as the 13th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. Some notable players from the 2014 NFL Draft include quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and edge rusher Khalil Mack.
Donald signed a four-year rookie contract with the Rams after being selected in the draft. In his rookie year, Donald won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and was also named in the NFL All-Rookie team. From 2015, Donald was named the starting defensive tackle for the Rams. He started all games of the season and ended the season with 69 tackles, 11 sacks and a fumble recovery. This led to him being selected for the Pro Bowl and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
Donald had s strong third season with the Rams but he was fined multiple times through the regular season for unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 for exemplary performances for the Rams. It was also a fourth consecutive Pro-Bowl selection for him.
Donald signed a six-year deal worth $135 million in 2018. The contract guaranteed him $87 million and also made him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league history. He helped the Rams reach Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots, but they ended up losing. He was, however, ranked as the #1 player by his peers in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.
Aaron Donald won the 2020 NFL Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Rams to another NFL Playoff. In the 2021 season, the Los Angeles Rams won a Super Bowl (LVI) against the Cincinnati Bengals. Donald made two sacks and three quarterback hits in the game and his pressure play on the fourth down with less than a minute to play secured the 23-20 win for the Rams.
Los Angeles Rams (2014-Present)
Aaron Donald has established himself as the best defensive tackle in the league since joining the Los Angeles Rams. He has been selected in the Pro-Bowl ever since his rookie season for all eight seasons he has spent at the NFL. He made it to two Super Bowls with the Rams and won the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2022. Aaron Donald has been excellent for the Rams and even won NFL Defensive Player of the Year thrice. He leads the Rams franchise record for most career sacks (98) and the player still has a lot of mileage to offer to the Rams. His current contract with the L.A. Rams is set to expire at the end of the 2023 season.
Aaron Donald added a Super Bowl Ring to his collection by winning the 2022 Super Bowl (LVI). He has also won two Conference Championship Rings by winning the NFC title in 2018 and 2021.
| Super Bowl | Year | Team |
| LVI | 2022 | Los Angeles Rams |
Aaron Donald Championship Rings
| Conference | Year | Team |
| National Football Conference (NFC) | 2018 | Los Angeles Rams |
| National Football Conference (NFC) | 2022 | Los Angeles Rams |
Total Super Bowl Appearances: 2
Super Bowl Record: 1-1
| Year | Super Bowl | Team | Opposition | Result | Tackles | Assists on Tackle | Sacks | Sacking Yards | Combined Tackles |
| 2018 | LIII | Los Angeles Rams | New England Patriots | L, 3-13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | LVI | Los Angeles Rams | Cincinnati Bengals | W, 23-20 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 4 |
Awards
| Year | Awards/Honours |
| 2022 | Super Bowl Winner |
| 2017, 2018, 2020 | NFL Defensive Player of the Year |
| 2014 | NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year |
| 2015-2021 | All-Pro First Team |
| 2014-2021 | Pro Bowl |
| 2018 | Deacon Jones Award |
| 2010s | NFL All Decade Team |
| 2014 | PWFA All Rookie Team |
| 2013 | ACC Defensive Player of the Year (college) |
| 2013 | Bronko Nagurski Trophy (college) |
| 2013 | Chuck Bednarik Award (college) |
| 2013 | Lombardi Award (college) |
| 2013 | Outland Trophy (college) |
| 2013 | Unanimous All-American (college) |
Aaron Donald’s net worth is estimated to be around $60 million. He was 40th richest athlete in the world as per Forbes magazine, in 2021. He received a majority of his wealth from the $135 million contract he signed with the Rams in 2017. He received a signing bonus of $40 million. He also received a $500,000 endorsement deal with companies like Electronic Arts and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Aaron Donald has an older brother who was a linebacker at ‘Toledo’ and remained as a free agent in the NFL before retiring in 2012. Aaron Donald is married to Erica Donald (previously Erica Sherman). They had been in a relationship for a long time and also have a son. Donald also has two children (a daughter and a son) from a previous relationship.
Be the first one to comment on this story
