Why is Aaron Donald Not Playing? Is Aaron Donald Injured?

Aaron Donald announced his retirement in March 2024 due to a lack of desire and passion for continued training as reasons for stepping away from football.

by Aishwarya R

Updated Sep 09, 2024

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Why is Aaron Donald Not Playing? Is Aaron Donald Injured?
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Why is Aaron Donald Not Playing?

Aaron Donald isn’t playing this season because he decided to retire from the NFL. He announced his retirement in March after ten seasons in the league.

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Donald said he was stepping away because he no longer felt the same passion for football and felt he had accomplished everything he wanted to in his career.

Despite his strong performance last season, he chose to retire to focus on his well-being and to enjoy life outside of football.

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Who is Aaron Donald?

Aaron Donald is a former professional football player who played as a defensive tackle in the NFL for ten seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He started his career with the Rams when they were based in St. Louis before the team moved to Los Angeles.

Donald is widely considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. He won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times, was selected to the Pro Bowl every year of his career, and was named a first-team All-Pro eight times.

He also played a key role in helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI. Donald played college football at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned several major awards for his performance.

Name

Aaron Donald

Gender

Male

Profession

NFL Defensive Tackle

Date of Birth

May 23, 1991

Place of Birth

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Age

33

Nationality

American

Parents

Anita Goggins and Archie Donald Sr.

Marital Status

Married

Wife Name

Erica Donald

Children

3

Is Aaron Donald Injured?

No, Aaron Donald is not injured. He retired from the NFL in March 2024, choosing to step away from the game after a successful career. His decision to retire was based on his personal feelings and the desire to focus on his well-being rather than any injury-related issues.

Aaron Donald Career

Aaron Donald, a standout defensive tackle, set a record at the NFL Combine with the fastest 40-yard dash for his position. Drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2014, he quickly made an impact, earning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a Pro Bowl selection.

In 2015, he had a strong season with 11 sacks and was named a First-team All-Pro. He continued his success in 2016 and 2017, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Despite some contract disputes in 2017, Donald remained a dominant force on the field.

In 2018, Aaron Donald signed a record-breaking contract, becoming the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history at the time. He had an exceptional season, leading the league with 20.5 sacks and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row. The Rams reached the Super Bowl, but lost to the Patriots.

In 2019, Donald continued his strong performance, making the Pro Bowl and earning First Team All-Pro honors again. He also won NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in 2020.

In 2022, Aaron Donald signed a new contract making him the highest-paid non-quarterback, but he missed the last part of the season due to an ankle injury. In 2023, he had a strong season with eight sacks and helped the Rams return to the playoffs. He retired from football in March 2024, saying he felt accomplished and lacked the desire to continue.

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Aaron Donald Early Life

Aaron Donald grew up in Pittsburgh as one of three children in a working-class family. His father got him into working out early to help give his life more structure. Donald admitted he was lazy as a kid, but by age 12, he and his father were waking up at 4:30 am to work out in a basement gym.

He attended Penn Hills High School, where he was a standout football player and earned All-State honors. Donald went on to play college football at the University of Pittsburgh, where he had an impressive career and received numerous awards for his performance.

Aaron Donald Family

Aaron Donald's parents are Anita Goggins and Archie Donald Sr. His older brother, Archie Jr., was a linebacker at Toledo and had a brief NFL career before retiring in 2012. The brothers, who shared a room growing up, dreamed of helping their parents retire, which motivated Aaron's career.

In April 2020, Aaron announced on Twitter that he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in communications. In 2021, he and his wife Erica Donald had a son, and he also has a daughter and another son from a previous relationship.

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Aaron Donald's Career Earnings

Aaron Donald's career earnings show his impressive growth and success in the NFL.

In his rookie year, 2014, he earned $6,112,000. By 2015, his earnings had increased to $7,058,260, including a salary of $946,260. In 2016, his salary grew to $1,341,500, bringing his total earnings to $8,399,760. The following year, in 2017, he earned $1,802,250, with his total earnings reaching $10,202,010. That year, he was named Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY).

In 2018, Donald's earnings surged significantly with a salary of $40,892,000, totaling $51,094,010 for the year. He won the DPOY award again. In 2019, he earned $9,108,000, bringing his total to $60,202,010. The year 2020 saw his salary rise to $17,020,228, making his total earnings $77,222,238. He was named Defensive Player of the Year once more.

In 2021, Donald earned $19,892,000, increasing his total to $97,114,238. He also achieved Super Bowl Champion status and was recognized as a top player in the NFL. The following year, 2022, his earnings jumped to $31,500,000, bringing his total to $128,614,238.

By 2023, Donald earned $28,500,000, with his career total reaching $157,114,238. His impressive career includes multiple Pro Bowl selections and being named the top defensive tackle.

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