EX-RAMS DT AARON DONALD ON RETIREMENT: “PASSION TO PLAY THE GAME IS NO LONGER THERE FOR ME”.

In a recent interview with ESPN, former defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams offered additional details about his choice to resign from the NFL. Donald claims that his “passion to play the game” has faded.

Even though Donald had been hinting at retirement for a while, it was nonetheless unexpected to see him go through with it given that he is still among the league’s best defensive players. In 2023, he appeared in his tenth Pro Bowl and recorded 53 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, and 8.0 sacks.

Donald said to ESPN, “I think the passion to play the game is no longer there for me.” “I love football and I will always love it, but I just don’t feel like pushing myself to do that anymore, especially when I think about going through another camp and another 17-game season.”

With a résumé that ensures he will be elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, Donald retired. In addition to being selected to the Pro Bowl each of his eight seasons as a professional, he was named to the First team All-Pro eight times and won the Defensive Player of the Year Award three times. His 111.0 career sacks are a franchise record for the Rams.

Donald said, “I accomplished everything and more than I even thought was possible.”