On Friday, the NFL world bid farewell to a legend.
Longtime Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald announced his retirement Friday afternoon, bringing one of the most decorated careers in football history to a close.
Donald’s résumé is unimpeachable: 10 Pro Bowls in 10 seasons, eight first-team All-Pro selections, three AP Defensive Player of the Year awards and a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
In the wake of Donald’s announcement, the sports world took time to reflect on the impact the surefire future Hall of Famer made over the course of a dominant decade.
Another future Hall of Famer—Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant—gave Donald kudos.
Enjoy your retirement 99. The work u put in on that gridiron is unmatched.
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 15, 2024
Hilariously, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was grateful to have Donald out of the NFC West.
THANK GOD.😂😅🫡
— Kyler Murray (@K1) March 15, 2024
“Quarterbacks rejoice,” the Rams themselves tweeted.
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 15, 2024
Memes along those lines abounded.
NFL QBs realizing they no longer have to worry about being chased by Aaron Donald on the field pic.twitter.com/DiLXJqlStF
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) March 15, 2024
Teammates—such as Los Angeles linebacker Ernest Jones, for instance—applauded Donald’s contributions.
NFL QBs realizing they no longer have to worry about being chased by Aaron Donald on the field pic.twitter.com/DiLXJqlStF
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) March 15, 2024
Many looked back on Donald’s so-so draft evaluation in the spring of 2014.
Aaron Donald’s draft profile always reminds me that no one really ever knows anything pic.twitter.com/nuEBYM2bPq
— aaron. (@ayroned) March 15, 2024
ESPN analyst and former quarterback Robert Griffin III suggested Donald should be inducted into the Hall of Fame immediately.
Aaron Donald has retired. Waive the waiting period and get this man his Gold Jacket THIS YEAR. @AaronDonald97 https://t.co/pjMEaCIPBZ
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) March 15, 2024
All told, many acclaimed Donald as among the best the NFL has ever had to offer.
Aaron Donald is one of the best players in the history of the league. Godspeed.
— Eric Eager 📊🏈 (@ericeager_) March 15, 2024
