Los Angeles Rams icon Aaron Donald hung up his cleats for good last week.
Donald announced last Friday his decision to retire from the NFL, leaving the game as unequivocally one of the greatest defenders of all time. How high up he is on the defensive totem pole in NFL history remains up for debate.
While fans and pundits can argue amongst themselves about Donald’s GOAT case, the man himself has his own answer for where he ranks.
Los Angeles Rams Legend Aaron Donald Addresses The GOAT Defender Talk
The Rams on Friday posted Donald’s first interview since announcing his retirement. The interviewer just so happened to be Donald’s wife Erica and the venue was in his childhood home.
But Mrs. Donald didn’t hold back with her questions. The very first one was whether or not her husband felt like he was the GOAT.
“For my era, yes. But everybody’s era was different,” answered Donald. “You’ve got guys that was great that I looked up to like Ray Lewis, that was the greatest of his time. [Troy] Polamalu, Pittsburgh guy. Lawrence Taylor. It’s different eras that it’s hard to say, because the game changed so much. In the time I played, I think I held my own and did what I did to help change the game.”
Donald played 10 NFL seasons and earned a Pro Bowl nod in every single one of them. He was First-Team All-Pro in all but two seasons — his rookie campaign and his injury-shortened 2022 season. He also won three Defensive Player of the Year trophies and has a Super Bowl ring with his name on it.
Donald’s resume stacks up against any of the all-time greats. But his answer about the differences between eras rings true.
Aaron Donald’s Retirement Was A Bit Surprising — But Not Unexpected Among Los Angeles Rams Fans
It was a bit of a surprise that Donald announced his retirement last Friday, but it wasn’t from out of nowhere. Donald had been rumored to be contemplating retirement ever since the Rams won the Super Bowl to end the 2021 season.
In his interview with his wife, Donald spoke about no longer having the same passion for the game that he once had. After achieving everything, there is to achieve as a modern-day defender, Donald didn’t see the point in trying to carry the boulder up the mountain one more time. He was ready for his well-earned rest as — by his words — the greatest defender of his era.