Eric Williams
NFC West Writer
He’s different.
That’s the best way former Los Angeles Rams defensive line coach Eric Henderson could describe his good friend Aaron Donald, who announced his retirement from football on Friday.
“The best part about him is the human being,” Henderson said when asked what makes Donald one of the best to ever play. “He makes my job easy because of the way he was raised. I always want to just thank his parents, his mom and his dad, for raising such an awesome young man.
“But he’s a guy that has all the tools, when you talk about the above-the-neck approach, knowing what he needs to do to get himself in the best shape or the most mentally prepared on a weekly basis. He does all those things. … He doesn’t ever want to be outworked.”
Few defensive players in NFL history can compete with Donald’s dominance on the field. During his 10-year career, he was named AP Defensive Player of the Year three times — the only other players to accomplish that feat are J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor. Donald was an eight-time All-Pro and a 10-time Pro Bowl selection. He and Hall of Famer Barry Sanders are the only players in league history to play at least 10 seasons and be selected to the Pro Bowl in each season, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
Donald will join Sanders in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as soon as he’s eligible.
“The great players in our league elevate the people around them, and Aaron has modeled the way for our team as long as I’ve been with the Rams,” coach Sean McVay said. “He’s an elite competitor, someone who leads by example in a way that’s authentic to him.”
Added Rams GM Les Snead: “There will never be another Aaron Donald.”
Maybe Snead is onto something. Donald’s 111 sacks put him at No. 28 on the all-time list and second among defensive tackles to Hall of Famer John Randle (137.5). Even more startling for a defensive tackle, Donald is No. 3 in league history in tackles for loss…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/aaron-donald-changed-the-game-for-defensive-tackles-hes-one-of-one
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Publish date : 2024-03-15 19:26:04
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