Donald Done: Where Does Retired Rams' Legend Rank Among NFL's Best All-Time Defensive Players?
When Aaron Donald surprisingly announced his retirement Friday morning, he left a gaping hole in the defense of the Los Angeles Rams. There are no voids, however, on Donald's career resume.
Simply put, he's retiring at age 32 as one of the best defensive players in the history of the NFL. He's a no-brainer, first-ballot Hall of Famer. The only debate is exactly where he fits among the league's immortal.
In only 10 seasons, Donald won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, tying him with J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor for the most in NFL history. He made the Pro Bowl all 10 seasons, tying Taylor for the most consecutive Pro Bowls to start a career. He also has had eight First-Team All-Pro selections in 10 years.
Donald finished with 111 sacks in his career, the most for a defensive tackle after his first 10 seasons in NFL history (and 11th most by any player). He led the league with 20.5 in 2018.
His 176 tackles for loss are the most by any player in NFL history after his first 10 seasons and 260 quarterback hits are second most (and most for a defensive tackle).
Donald is probably the best defensive tackle in NFL history, but where does he rank among all defensive players?
10. Rod Woodson - An elite cornerback before he became an elite safety with the Steelers, he twice led the league in interceptions.
9. Bruce Smith - Bills' defensive end was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and the only player with 200 sacks.
8. Deacon Jones - So feared was the Rams' defensive end that the NFL eliminated his signature move: the head slap.
7. Dick Butkus - Bears' linebacker is perhaps the most brutal tackler in the history of the sport.
6. Aaron Donald - Finished among the top five in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting seven consecutive seasons and, of course, got his Super Bowl ring with the Rams in the 2021 season.
5. Ronnie Lott - Won four Super Bowls with the 49ers and redefined the safety position as a big-hitter in the run game that could also cover anyone from tight ends to speedy receivers.
4. Reggie White - Packers' defensive end started his career with 12 consecutive seasons of 10+ sacks and made the Pro Bowl in 13 of his 15 seasons. He won DPOY at age 37.
3. Ray Lewis - Ravens' two-time Defensive Player of the Year was a nasty linebacker who remains the only player in NFL history with 40 sacks and 30 interceptions and is the all-time leader in combined tackles.
2. Deion Sanders - When today's scouts talk about a "shutdown corner," this is the guy who created the mold in returning nine interceptions for touchdowns and winning Defensive Player of the Year in 1994. He was the star on Super Bowl teams in San Francisco and Dallas.
1. Lawrence Taylor - The Giants' linebacker 20.5 sacks in winning and 1986 NFL MVP, won DPOY three times and forced teams to conjure "two tight-end sets" in an attempt to block his pass rush.
