Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt Superstar Aaron Donald Retires

A Pitt Panthers legend is stepping away from football for good.

Stephen Thompson

Former Pitt Superstar Aaron Donald Retires
Former Pitt Superstar Aaron Donald Retires /
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PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald made a stunning announcement this week. 

Donald, who has dominated at Penn Hills High School, Pitt and with the Los Angeles Rams, announced that he would retire from football after 10 years in professional football. 

"Throughout my career, I have given my everything to football both mentally and physically - 365 days a year was dedicated to becoming the best possible player I could be. I respected the game like no other and I'm blessed to be able to conclude my NFL career with the same franchise that drafted me. ... As I turn my focus to a new chapter, I don't know what the future holds, but I am excited about the off-the-field possibilities."

Donald's racked up 53 total tackles this season, 16 for a loss, eight sacks, 23 quarterback hits and three passes defended. Frequent double-teams still weren't slowing down the best defensive tackle in the NFL, even as he wrapped up his age 32 season. 

Donald, the 2014 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, has also won three overall Defensive Player of the Year awards and First-Team All-Pro selections in eight of his nine seasons. He earned a Super Bowl ring in 2022 with the Los Angeles Rams. 

He dominated his senior season at Pitt in 2013, finishing the year having taken home ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, in addition to the Nagurski, Lombardi and Bednarik Awards and the Outland Trophy and consensus first-team All-American honors. Donald's 66 career tackles for loss rank fourth all-time in NCAA history.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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