Aaron Donald has shared a heartfelt message via social media following his decision to retire.
A 10-time Pro Bowler and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Donald has chosen to leave the game of football while still among the most formidable defensive stars in the NFL.
The 32-year-old is calling it quits after spending all of his 10 years with the Los Angeles Rams, with two of those spent in St. Louis.
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He has since taken to X to post a message, thanking both cities for their support.
“For 10 years, I have been fortunate to play the game of football at the highest level,” he wrote. “I’m thankful for the people I’ve met along the way, the relationships I’ve built and the things I’ve accomplished with my teammates and individually.
“I would like to thank St. Louis for the love and support during my first two years in the league as a St. Louis Ram, and through my eight years as a Los Angeles Ram. I would like to thank Los Angeles for the love and support throughout my career as well. California has become home to me and my family, and you all made it extra special.
“I would like to thank Mr. Kroenke and his family for building an organization that I was blessed to be part of.
“There are far too many people in the organization to thank specifically, but I will never forget the relationships. I appreciate everyone on the field, off the field and behind the scenes that made my job smooth. I know I’m going to miss my teammates and the camaraderie we had in the building, as well as the coaches who will continue to have a lasting impact on me.”
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The star defensive tackle had been mulling over retirement for two years. He took several months before opting to return after the Rams’ Super Bowl win at the end of the 2021 season, even sending the team a retirement letter.
The letter was never submitted to the league and the Rams eventually agreed to a restructured contract that made Donald the highest-paid defensive player in the league.
Injury limited the former Pittsburgh star to just 11 games in 2022, but he managed 16 outings last season as he helped the Rams return to the playoffs.
Donald finished the season with 53 tackles and eight sacks as he earned first-team All-Pro honors for the eighth time. He’s ended his career with 111 total sacks and is one of just two NFL DTs to record at least 100 career sacks, with Hall of Famer John Randle the only other.
