NFC West Loses Best Player to Retirement
ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals won't have to worry about the talents of Los Angeles Rams DE Aaron Donald anymore after the future Hall of Famer announced his retirement on social media:
Donald is widely considered to be not only one of the best defensive players of his generation, but of all-time as well. Very few players truly fit the "game-wrecker" mold, but the former three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year indeed does.
Donald recently restructured his contract to allow $9.2 million more in Los Angeles' salary cap for 2024. Retirement rumors have followed the Pitt product for a few offseasons now, and now he's finally made good on that smoke.
Donald entered the NFL as the No. 13 pick in 2014 and remained with the Rams through his entire ten-year career, a somewhat rare occurrence in today's league.
Donald is a Super Bowl champion with eight first-team All-Pro appearances, ten Pro Bowls, a spot on the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Donald played in 154 games with 542 tackles and 111 sacks.
While teams around the NFC West such as the Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers certainly aren't complaining, Donald's presence will be missed across the entire league.
