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Aaron Donald Retirement: LeBron James and Kevin Durant Join Rams Nation in Bidding Goodbye to NFL Legend

Published 03/15/2024, 12:51 PM EDT

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At the age of 32, an NFL beast is bidding adieu after 10 fruitful years. A loved member of the Los Angeles Rams and one of the greatest players of all time, Aaron Donald officially announced his retirement from the National Football League. Donald will be remembered for his domineering defensive prowess, a trait that has seen many legends claim him to be the greatest defensive player of all time.

Donald finished his career with a decorated resume. The Rams legend won three Defensive Player of The Year titles, tied for most in the history of the NFL. The powerful force of nature was selected for 10 Pro Bowls and was an eight-time member of the First-Team All-Pro. AD spent his entire tenure with the Rams, solidifying his legacy with the city and the organization. Moreover, his greatness was also admired by NBA giants LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Kevin Durant and LeBron James celebrate Aaron Donald

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It didn’t matter which team Kevin Durant or LeBron James supported. With Donald announcing his retirement, both of them took time to acknowledge his superiority and the luminous legacy he leaves behind. They took to Twitter to congratulate Donald on his retirement and wish him the best for the next chapter of his life. Taking to X, KD wrote, “Enjoy your retirement 99. The work u put in on that gridiron is unmatched.”

James also gave “Champ” Aaron Donald his props and admitted he was truly elated to watch his decade of dominance.

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Aaron Donald will be remembered for his ruthless defense. The greats of the game feared blocking him. His giant frame and muscular build gave quarterbacks nightmares. He finished his fruitful career with 111 sacks, the 28th most in NFL history. His presence was instrumental in the Rams winning Super Bowl 56.

“I respected this game like no other and I’m blessed to be able to conclude my NFL career with the same franchise that drafted me. Not many people get drafted to a team, win a World Championship with that team, and retire with that team. I do not, and will not, take that for granted,” AD wrote as he announced his retirement.

The Rams organization too was filled with pride. While it was an emotional day for the franchise saying goodbye to probably its greatest player, there was jubilation in the fact that he enjoyed a mightily successful one. The 32-year-old pass-rusher will be an archetype for generations to come. He gave everything he had to the sport for 10 years, now it’s time for him to kick back and relish the fruits of his sacrifices.

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Do you think Aaron Donald is the GOAT defensive player of all time?

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Written by:

Anuj Talwalkar

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One take at a time

Anuj Talwalkar is a Senior NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, who is marching towards touching 3000 articles. As a writer who specializes in game analysis, post-game pressers, thrilling perspective on players and their performances, he loves merging his passion for writing with the complex human-dramas that unfold everyone on-court. At ES, he is known for his quick coverage of breaking news, an expertise that is now inspiring the junior writers.
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Edited by:

Ankit Singh