The Los Angeles Rams capped off an incredible season with a 23-20 Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Having accomplished just about everything there is in the NFL, will future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald walk away from football and retire?
Will Aaron Donald retire?
Prior to Super Bowl 56, there were whispers that if the Rams won, Donald might retire from the NFL. Well, the Rams won.
Donald sealed LA’s victory by stuffing Samaje Perine on third-and-1 before pressuring Joe Burrow into the game-ending incompletion on fourth down. Was that the final of Donald’s Hall of Fame career?
Donald’s Super Bowl 56 performance
Although Cooper Kupp won MVP, Donald was a menace in the Super Bowl. The Bengals had to double-team him consistently. If they didn’t, Donald got through.
He finished the game with 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 3 total tackles, and 3 QB hits on Burrow. Donald has been a true difference-maker his entire career. If this was indeed his final game, he went out on top.
What do we know about whether Donald will retire?
Donald is still just 30 years old. His playing ability remains as high as ever. If he wants to, he can easily play another half-decade, if not more.
Before the Super Bowl, there was no inclination that retiring was even on the table until Rodney Harrison mentioned it in NBC’s pregame show. Donald reportedly told Harrison “there’s a strong possibility” he’ll retire if the Rams win.
Naturally, this sparked discussion. After the Rams emerged victorious, Donald was interviewed on the field. Unsurprisingly, he was asked about his NFL future.
Donald said, “I’m just in the moment right now. I’m enjoying this with my family. I promised my daughter this when she was five years old — to play in the confetti — so I’m just in the moment right now. I’m going to enjoy this with my teammates, my family, and I’m just going to be in the moment and enjoy this today, for a couple days, how about that? It’s a blessing.”
Von Miller’s comments
You know reporters. If they can’t get an answer from the source, they’ll try whoever is willing to speak to them. When asked about Donald’s future, Von Miller said, “I don’t know, man. He’s done everything you could possibly do. But this feeling right here, there’s nothing like it. It’s addictive once you feel this. Coming to the Super Bowl is one thing, but winning it is different.”
Miller continued, “We’ll just have to see. He’s done so much. But I tell you, this feeling is great. It just makes you want it more and more and more. But he’s definitely capped off a great career if he chooses to do that. But this is an addictive feeling, man, and I just can’t see him walking away from this.”
Donald’s future with the Rams and in the NFL
Donald has three years and $55 million remaining on his current contract. While money is certainly not the sole motivator behind his decision, it certainly plays a factor. That is a lot of money to walk away from.
The fact remains Donald is arguably the greatest defensive player of all time, and he is still playing at an elite level. If he walks away, it will leave a gaping hole in the Rams’ defensive front.