Star player Aaron Donald of the Rams has announced his retirement from the NFL after completing 10 seasons in the league.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive linemen of his era, has announced his retirement from the NFL after an illustrious 10-year career.

In a heartfelt statement released on March 15, the 32-year-old Super Bowl champion expressed his excitement about spending more time with his wife, Erica Donald, and their four children—Jaeda, AJ, Aaric, and Aali. Reflecting on his career, Donald emphasized the joy of playing alongside his family and witnessing their own aspirations unfold.

Donald, a Pittsburgh native, dedicated his entire NFL journey to the Rams, culminating in a triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in 2021. His remarkable career statistics include 111 sacks, ranking third among active players, and he holds the franchise record for career sacks with the Rams.

Throughout his tenure, Donald garnered numerous accolades, including 10 Pro Bowl selections, eight All-Pro first-team honors, and three Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2017, 2018, and 2020. He joins the esteemed company of Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt as one of only three players to win the top defensive honor thrice.

Expressing his gratitude, Donald emphasized his unwavering dedication to the game and expressed his blessing to retire with the team that drafted him. He also highlighted the rarity of winning a championship and retiring with the same team.

Despite his exceptional career, Donald faced minimal setbacks due to injury, missing only six games throughout his tenure, all of them late in the 2022 season when the Rams were out of playoff contention. His postseason contributions included 543 career tackles, 176 tackles for loss, 24 forced fumbles, 34 tackles, and six sacks in 11 playoff games.

In response to Donald’s retirement, Rams owner Stanley Kroenke hailed him as one of the greatest players of all time, praising his lasting impact on football fans worldwide. Head coach Sean McVay commended Donald’s leadership and work ethic, emphasizing his role in inspiring teammates to excel on and off the field.

Teammate Bobby Wagner reflected on Donald’s influence, noting his exceptional work ethic and character, and expressed excitement for Donald’s future endeavors.

Aaron Donald’s retirement marks the conclusion of an extraordinary NFL career characterized by excellence, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the game.