Aaron Donald

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Donald's journey began with structure; his father introduced workouts when Donald was just twelve, waking them up at 4:30 a.m. to train in their basement gym. After starring at Penn Hills High School as a three-star prospect, he committed to Pittsburgh over offers from Toledo, Akron, and Rutgers. His college career exploded as a junior and senior, culminating in him being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American in 2013. Upon entering the NFL, Donald ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash at the Combine—among the fastest ever for a defensive tackle, though not the outright record (the fastest official time for a defensive tackle is 4.67 seconds by Dontari Poe in 2012). His explosive performance drew comparisons to John Randle. Selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round (13th overall) of the 2014 draft, he signed a fully guaranteed four-year contract worth $10.13 million. His rookie year saw him earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and a Pro Bowl selection.

In Their Own Story

In 2017, Donald missed training camp due to a contract dispute, accumulating roughly $1.4 million in fines before reporting on September 9. He made his season debut in Week 2 against the Redskins, recording two tackles. The following week on Thursday Night Football against the 49ers, he sacked Brian Hoyer to seal a narrow 41–39 victory. From Weeks 6 through 10, Donald recorded a sack in every game and forced three fumbles while deflecting a pass during a Week 10 win over the Houston Texans. His relentless pressure continued into December; in a Week 12 victory over the Saints, he tallied five tackles and a sack, followed by two sacks of Blaine Gabbert against the Cardinals. These performances contributed to him winning his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. The franchise later retired his No. 97 jersey at halftime on November 15, 2025.

Reader's Guide

The 'Donald Era' is defined by unprecedented individual consistency and team success. He became the only player in NFL history to be named Defensive Player of the Year three times. His selection in the 2014 draft marked a turning point, as he earned Pro Bowl selections in all ten of his seasons and eight first-team All-Pro honors. A key moment in this timeline was the move of the Rams franchise from St. Louis to Los Angeles during the 2016 season, where Donald continued his dominance despite being ejected early in the season opener for illegal contact with an official. His career culminated as a member of the team that won Super Bowl LVI. Even after retirement, his legacy is honored by his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame on January 14, 2026.

Did You Know?

• Donald ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine—among the fastest ever for a defensive tackle, though not the outright record (the fastest official time for a defensive tackle is 4.67 seconds by Dontari Poe in 2
• As a high school senior, he compiled 63 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks while also starting as an offensive guard.
• During a 2017 contract dispute, Donald accumulated about $1.4 million in fines for missing training camp and preseason games.
• In his senior college season (2013), he recorded a career-best 28.5 tackles for loss.