How Long Has Aaron Donald Been in the NFL?
How long has Aaron Donald been in the NFL? Donald was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 and has been with the team ever since. He’s a 6-time Pro Bowl selection and was named the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
NFL Career
Drafted by the Rams in 2014
Aaron Donald was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he was a two-time Consensus All-American. He has been with the Rams for his entire NFL career thus far, and has been selected for the Pro Bowl six times. In 2018, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year on Saturday night.
Donald, the 13th overall pick in last year’s draft out of Pittsburgh, had nine sacks and one forced fumble during his rookie season. He was a key part of a Rams defense that improved from 22nd in the league in sacks in 2013 to 10th last season.
“This is an incredible honor,” Donald said in a statement released by the Rams. “I want to thank my teammates, my coaches and the entire Rams organization for helping me have such a successful rookie season.”
Donald is the second Rams player to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, joining linebacker Shawn Mercer, who won the award in 1996.
Named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons
Aaron Donald was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons, and was also named First Team All-Pro four times. In 2017, he was named AP Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NFL with 11 sacks. He signed a six-year, $135 million extension with the Rams in 2018, making him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
College Career
Aaron Donald was a four-year starter at defensive tackle for the University of Pittsburgh from 2010 to 2013. He was a first-team All-American in 2012 and 2013, and won the Nagurski Award, Lombardi Award, and Outland Trophy in 2013. He also set the Pittsburgh Panthers career record for sacks with 29.5.
Played college football at the University of Pittsburgh
Aaron Donald played college football at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a three-time first-team All-American, and was unanimously recognized as the best defensive player in the nation as a senior in 2013. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Clyde “Bulldog” Turner Award, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, and Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year Award. He is Pitt’s all-time leader in sacks with 29.5.
Won the Nagurski Award and the Outland Trophy
Aaron Donald is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pitt, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, and was drafted by the Rams in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He is a five-time Pro Bowler, and a four-time First-team All-Pro. He has been named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice, winning in 2017 and 2018.
Donald attended Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he played high school football as a defensive end. He was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com. In 2009, as a senior, he was named first team all-state by Pennsylvania Football News after accumulating 65 tackles and 11 sacks. That season he helped lead Penn Hills to its second consecutive state championship appearance. Regarded as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Donald was not ranked among the nation’s top defensive tackles in 2010 recruiting class.[5][6] He chose to attend Pitt over Akron and Toledo.[7][8]
At Pittsburgh, Donald redshirted as a freshman in 2010.[9] The following year, as a redshirt freshman, he saw significant playing time appearing in all 13 games while making 23 tackles with 3.5 sacks.[10][11] As a sophomore in 2012 he again played in all 13 games while recording 36 tackles with 5 sacks.[12] After his junior season in 2013 where he compiled 58 tackles with 11 sacks,[13] Donald won the Chuck Bednarik Award,[14] Bronko Nagurski Award[15] and Outland Trophy.[16][17][18] He became just the third defensive tackle to ever win all three awards joining Alex Karras (1957) and Ndamukong Suh (2009).[19]
Personal Life
Aaron Donald is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he was recognized as a consensus All-American and was drafted by the Rams in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Married to Veronica Lopez in 2017
The two were married in a private ceremony in Chicago. They have been together since college and have a son, Aaron Jr., born in 2016. Donald has two other children from a previous relationship.
Has two sons, Adam and Andrew
Aaron Donald is an NFL defensive tackle who has been with the Los Angeles Rams since 2014. He has two sons, Adam and Andrew.
