Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald shocked the NFL world on Friday morning when he announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons.
Donald had flirted with the idea of retirement the last couple of offseasons so everyone knew it was coming at some point. But considering he was still playing at such a high level in 2023 and the Rams are building towards getting back into championship contention, the consensus was that Donald had at least one more season left in him.
No one is more deserving of being able to go out on their own terms than Donald though as he is arguably the greatest defensive player of all time and gave his all to the organization for a decade.
Because of that, Friday is a day of celebration and a number of people from the Rams and NFL family like Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey, Bobby Brown, Jordan Fuller, Andrew Whitworth, Torry Holt, Kyler Murray and J.J. Watt paid their respects to Donald:
Thankful to have been able to watch, learn from, and play alongside one of the best to ever do it. Appreciate you @AaronDonald97!
Feel sorry for whoever has to line up across from you, in whatever it is you want to do next!
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) March 15, 2024
— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) March 15, 2024
Blessed to have played this game alongside you. There will never be another Aaron Donald‼️‼️ https://t.co/HCpGhrAwlz
— Ernest Jones (@ernestjones53) March 15, 2024
Enjoy retirement OG well deserved & well earned. The greatest to ever do it 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Z0DJnGkUOx
— Bobby Brown III🧸 (@bobbyiii5) March 15, 2024
The 🐐!
Love you brother!
Thx for being you! https://t.co/OJzG8b1Y5u— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) March 15, 2024
Listen #99 is a NFL 🐐!
But the takeaway for me didn’t happen on game days.Watching the most relentless, selfless, hardest working athlete I ever been around. -That’s what I walked away with
(1of1 Talent + elite work ethic + rare toughness + humble spirit +no excuses + we…
— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) March 15, 2024
🐐❕ Congrats dawg @AaronDonald97
DAMN 😞 https://t.co/wOaaRGVBFl
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) March 15, 2024
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME @AaronDonald97 🐐 ! DAMN IT WAS AN HONOR FR 😞🤟🏾
Happy Retirement pic.twitter.com/WuE3ClupcA
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) March 15, 2024
Honored to have competed against the best of All-Time! @AaronDonald97
Enjoy ya retirement and plz don’t come back.🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/DcVhCMw0vv
— Kyler Murray (@K1) March 15, 2024
The greatest!! Big congratulations https://t.co/lKiYMKlP7Q
— Jordan Fuller (@j_fuller4) March 15, 2024
Decade of Dominance! 🏆
A TRUE 🐏
Thank you, 99!! pic.twitter.com/uiq83uaTWt— Torry Holt (@AllHands81) March 15, 2024
One of the greatest to ever play the game.
Period.
Congratulations @AaronDonald97
One hell of a career.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 15, 2024
The respect and admiration that Donald had from his peers was easy to see all throughout his career. While it’s unfortunate that we won’t be able to see him dominate on the Rams’ defensive line anymore, quarterbacks around the league are surely happy they won’t have to see No. 99 on the other side of the field.
If this is indeed the end for Donald then he will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2029, where he surely will be elected on the first ballot.
Rams star Aaron Donald posted retirement video
To announce his retirement, Donald posted an awesome video highlighting some of the best moments of his Rams career. That video can be viewed HERE.
