While the average length of an NFL career is just three to four years, it’s still hard to see someone quit football when they are at the peak of their prowess. Aaron Donald calling it a day in 2024, when he was just 32 and while seeming to have a lot more years in the tank, was a shocker indeed.
Advertisement
The LA Rams’ star defender made the perplexing decision even though he left on a high, after 10 seasons and a Super Bowl success. His former pass-rushing coordinator, Chris Shula, believed Donald had a noble reason behind it.
On the latest episode of the Green Light podcast, Shula reflected on Donald’s retirement and the impact it had on the Rams. He agreed that the former defensive tackle easily had another decade of football left in him, before revealing Donald’s thought process.
Shula revealed that Donald didn’t want to keep playing if he couldn’t give the game his all. “He didn’t want to cheat the system,” he said.
The Rams’ defensive coordinator shared that Donald held himself to an incredibly high standard, so much so that he insisted on participating in every offseason workout. That included OTAs and training camp, even when his status meant he didn’t have to.
“He didn’t want to be the guy that didn’t go to every single OTA, didn’t put every single thing he had in, even though he probably could show up for training camp a few weeks and still be a really good, dominant player for us. He was the guy, either he was all in or not,” Shula narrated.
So, when Donald retired, it marked a major turning point for the Rams’ defense. Without him, the spotlight shifted to the younger players. It was a tough adjustment — not just emotionally, but strategically.
Donald played 154 games for the Rams, making 543 tackles and 111 sacks. He deflected 21 passes and caused 24 forced fumbles. Opposing offenses were always planned around Donald. His presence on the field made life easier for everyone else on defense. With him gone, everything changed.
Offensive coordinators test the Rams in new ways now, throwing different hooks and schemes they may not have encountered before. Young players will be tasked with new responsibilities and larger roles in the defensive system. It’s a challenge, no doubt — but one that the Rams had no choice but to embrace.
However, Shula had initially underestimated what it would be like to play without the 10-time Pro Bowler.
How are the Rams faring without Donald?
Without Donald anchoring that front, the responsibility shifts to younger players like Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to step into much bigger roles — reading offenses, adjusting to new looks, and making plays under pressure.
Without the three-time Defensive Player of the Year on the field, the offensive playbook instantly expands. Opposing teams no longer need to design around Donald’s dominance, which opens the door for deeper, longer-developing plays.
Quarterbacks can operate with more confidence, knowing they’re not under constant siege from the edge.
“I think we probably underestimated just how different it was without him. You can line him up and dictate the turn every single time to go to where you are really studying protections and trying to find out the rules,” said Shula.
“Now, we have some guys that have those expectations. Now, they [have] got to account for an edge guy. We do studies and that’s the biggest thing,” he added.
It’s been two seasons since Donald retired, and the Rams have handled the transition with a clear sense of direction. Determined to rebuild their defense, they’ve made it a priority to stockpile young talent through the draft. And the roster now features a strong core of defensive players aged 25 or younger.
Following Donald’s retirement, the Rams had four notable defensive linemen on the roster: Kobie Turner, Desjuan Johnson, Bobby Brown III, and Cory Durden. Most of them were drafted in 2023 — a class assembled with the knowledge that it would be Donald’s final season.
In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Rams doubled down on their defensive focus, selecting edge rusher Jared Verse, defensive tackle Braden Fiske, linebacker Brennan Johnson, and defensive lineman Tyler Davis. These additions continued the franchise’s mission of building a fast, physical, and youthful defense.
Looking ahead to this year’s draft, many expect the Rams to stay the course. One name already linked to them is Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell—a versatile, athletic prospect who could be another key piece in their defensive resurgence.
