It is almost that time of year when the latest edition of the legendary Madden NFL football video game releases to the world. Players across the league anxiously await to see what they will be rated in the game, but one player who hasn’t had to think about that in a long time is Los Angeles Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
Donald long ago cemented himself as the NFL’s premier defensive player, and at this point has entered the discussion for greatest defensive player of all-time in the eyes of many. In addition to his numerous accomplishments on the field, the Rams star is setting records in the video game world as well.
Madden released it’s ratings for the top defensive linemen in Madden NFL 24 with Donald topping the list with a perfect 99 rating. It is the seventh consecutive season in which Donald has that rating, breaking a tie with Peyton Manning for the most all-time:
Most appearances in Madden history 😱
Welcome back @AaronDonald97 💪 #99Club #Madden24 pic.twitter.com/tXUAvgmug2
— Madden NFL 24 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 18, 2023
It really is a great accomplishment and is proof to just how dominant Donald has been since he stepped foot in the NFL. Donald has been a Pro Bowler in all nine of his NFL seasons and was selected to seven consecutive NFL All-Pro First Teams with that streak ending this past season due in large part to injuries limiting him to just 11 games, the first time he missed games due to injury in his career.
Additionally, Donald has been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times and was an absolute game changing force in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. He recorded two sacks and three QB hits while also sealing the win with a pressure on the final fourth-and-1 play resulting in an incompletion.
As it currently stands, Donald is one of just two players with a perfect 99 rating, the other being Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, another well-deserved selection. The Rams are represented in the top wide receiver ratings as well with Cooper Kupp being rated a 96, trailing only Jefferson, Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams while being tied with Stefon Diggs.
Of course, Donald isn’t focused on video game ratings, but rather getting the Rams back to where they were in previous seasons. The expectations for the team aren’t high, but with himself, Kupp and Matthew Stafford back healthy, the Rams plan on making some noise.
