Aaron Donald is mainly known for being one of the best defensive players in the NFL throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s. However, before becoming a superstar with the Los Angeles Rams, he was a dominant defensive lineman at Pitt. The school recently announced that it will retire his No. 97 jersey, and Donald’s reaction to the honor was priceless.
Aaron Donald Reacts To Pitt Retiring His Jersey
There haven’t been many players in NFL history as dominant as Aaron Donald. When he retired following the 2023 season after a 10-year career, he finished with eight first-team All-Pro honors, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a Super Bowl title in 2021.
Before he dominated in the NFL, Donald was a standout defensive lineman at Pitt from 2010 to 2013. The Panthers announced they will honor him later this season by retiring his No. 97 jersey.
The school surprised Donald at his home, with athletic director Allen Greene delivering the news to the former Pitt superstar in front of his family. It’s safe to say Donald was overcome with emotion by the surprise.
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It was awesome to see how much Donald’s jersey retirement meant to him, and it’s easy to understand why, given his accomplishments at Pitt.
Donald committed to Pitt as a hometown kid, joining the Panthers’ 2010 recruiting class out of Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 247Sports’ composite rankings listed him as a four-star prospect and the No. 31 defensive tackle in his class.
From the moment he arrived on campus, he was a standout player for the Panthers. During his college football career, he racked up 181 tackles with 115 solos, 66 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, and 29.5 sacks.
Donald’s senior season in 2013 was his best, as he finished with a staggering 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, earning consensus All-American honors. He also won the Nagurski Award and the Bednarik Award, both of which are given to the nation’s top defensive player each season.
Pitt announces it is retiring the jersey of former star Aaron Donald. His No. 97 jersey will be retired during the Panthers’ Nov. 15 game against Notre Dame. As a senior led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss and added 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, and a blocked extra point. pic.twitter.com/4LrEemmBdq
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 22, 2025
That performance vaulted him into first-round draft discussions, and the Rams selected him No. 13 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. Aside from legends like Larry Fitzgerald, Dan Marino, and Darrelle Revis, it’s hard to find another Pitt player with a better career, making the jersey retirement long overdue.
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 15, ahead of Pitt’s matchup against Notre Dame. In addition to his jersey retirement, Donald will be inducted into Pitt’s Hall of Fame on Friday, September 26, 2025, and honored on the field the following day ahead of the Panthers’ game against Louisville.
