The 2024 season will look vastly completely different for the Los Angeles Rams as they’ll be with out franchise icon Aaron Donald, who retired earlier within the offseason.
Donald’s retirement got here as a shock to the fanbase however to not these throughout the Rams group, who appeared to watch him cherishing the final season of his profession.
Head coach Sean McVay and Donald developed a detailed relationship all through the years that was cemented by their Tremendous Bowl LVI win.
In look on Inexperienced Mild with Chris Lengthy, McVay recounted what it was like to listen to Donald inform him he was finished enjoying:
“I feel the very first thing is, and Aaron very well, and one of many issues I that I recognize probably the most, Chris, is he let me in. We had a relationship that I actually cherished. Largest factor I’d say is when any individual like I did with Aaron, he didn’t have to inform me. I noticed the way in which he that he moved all through the entire final 12 months. He took moments in, he was actually cherishing it. He’s all the time actually been appreciative of the journey and I’ve all the time beloved that about him. However there was simply sure issues when you’ll be able to simply see individuals are savoring moments that it felt like he knew with out wanting the eye that sometimes could be accompanied with a few of these retirements issues like that. That’s not who he’s. However I simply knew by the way in which that he form of moved all through that 12 months, the way in which that he poured into these youthful guys, the way in which that he was even simply after video games, you’re simply cherishing these moments. And when he advised me, I knew. Proper once we walked off the sector in Detroit I stated, ‘That’s it, huh?’ And he goes, ‘Yep, that’s it.’ Stated I like you, you’ve modified my life for the higher. I can’t even let you know the quantity of constructive issues that you just’ve delivered to my life and what you imply to me as an individual extra importantly than a participant.”
Donald had been mulling retirement for years and he left the sport on a excessive observe after main the Rams again to the playoffs. Donald will go down as arguably the best participant in staff historical past and can absolutely be missed.
Whereas changing a participant of Donald’s caliber is not going to be straightforward, the Rams did an excellent job including to their defensive position within the draft by taking Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and others within the later rounds.
Rams gamers and legends congratulate Aaron Donald on retirement
After Aaron Donald retired, a number of Rams gamers, legends and different figures congratulated him on retirement.
