Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has won the Defensive Player of the Year award, marking the third time in his career that he has secured the honor.

Playing in all 16 games of the regular season for the Rams, Donald collected 13.5 sacks and four forced fumbles despite being one of the most heavily double-teamed players in the NFL.

To win the award, Aaron Donald narrowly beat out Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt, who had entered the day as the slight favorite to take home the top defensive honor. In being named the best defender in the league, the defensive tackle joins JJ Watt and Lawrence Taylor as the only players in NFL history to secure the award three times.

Only 29 years old, the Rams star will have ample opportunity to win defensive player of the year at an unprecedented fourth time.

While Donald's numbers this season were slightly behind those he put up the first two times he won the honor, many have argued that his 2020 campaign with the Rams was no less impressive. Not only did he anchor a defense that was ranked first overall in total yards allowed, but he did so despite being double-teamed at an astounding 70 percent of the time on pass rushes–easily the most in the league. While he still proved capable of beating offensive lineman on the way to the backfield, his presence altered the “gravity” on the field in a way few players do in the NFL.

For a player widely regarded as the most talented defender of his generation, Aaron Donald now has the hardware to back up that claim.