Aaron Donald had a brilliant career with the Los Angeles Rams franchise and has been an unstoppable force through the majority of his 10 years in the league. He uttered words that opposing offensive players longed to hear during the offseason when he announced his retirement.
Playing against Donald for opposing offensive linemen — specifically those in the NFC West that competed against him twice a year — was akin to going into a torture chamber. Donald simply had too many weapons on his side. He was stronger than those trying to block him and he was also quicker, meaner and tougher.
It meant that those trying to slow down his assault in the offensive backfield were in for a long day.
Donald and Rams turn 2023 season into a successful campaign
The Rams started the 2023 season slowly but they turned their year around in the middle of the season and surged into a spot in the NFC playoffs. That result was quite unexpected and they ended up seeing their season come to a conclusion when they lost the Wild Card game on the road to the Detroit Lions.
Donald told the Green Light podcast with host Chris Long that he thought the Rams played well enough in that game to win, and that he was proud of the effort that he saw from his teammates. However, he knew it would be the last game he would play in an NFL uniform.
“Yes, because you know again I'm a guy that's emotional definitely after a playoff loss. You know I'm usually mad, upset, but after the game bro I was in such a good spirit bro,” Donald said. “I was proud how we fought, I felt like we didn't start the game off well as a defense but didn't nobody quit in my mind bro, we was going to win that game, I didn’t think we was going to lose that game at all, and the guys were playing hard to the to the last play. I was proud of them.”
After the game, Aaron Donald felt proud and happy as he waved to his family in the stands. He made it a point to let Rams head coach Sean McVay that he had just played his last NFL game.
“And I knew it was going to be my last game, so you know, just looking at Erica, the family was there, I'm waving at the family in the suite up top. You know the fans, I'm waving at the fans. I hug my d-line coach, I hug Cam, Chapel, we walking off the field and I got smiles. I'm just absorbing, taking it all in bro. And it's like this is the last time that I'm going to have the shoulder pads on and get the experience walking off of an NFL football field. I went to the locker room I remember hugging Sean he said, ‘Is that it?' I said that's it.”
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