There is no player in the league like Donald, an undersized defensive tackle with the power of a 330-pound powerlifter and the quickness of a running back. His combination of speed and power made him borderline impossible for linemen to block, which is why he was double-teamed nearly half the time throughout his career.
Donald struck fear in opposing quarterbacks, linemen and running backs each and every week because he was capable of beating his block in under a half-second, slipping his way into the backfield before the quarterback could even turn around after a play-action fake.
Oct 7, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) is blocked…Oct 14, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos center Matt Paradis (61) pass blocks against Los…Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) is kept away from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus…SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 07: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams is held back…SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 10: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams is blocked by…Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) pressures…Oct 1, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) rushes the…INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams gets double teamed…INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes during a…Jan 2, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) rushes Baltimore…Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) is blocked by Arizona Cardinals guard Max Garcia…Sep 27, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sacks…LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after…CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 25: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams sacks Joe Burrow…Dec 6, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sacks Arizona…Dec 17, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) throws Seattle…Oct 11, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Football Team quarterback Kyle Allen (8) is sacked by…Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald (99) sacks Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen (17) during the second half…Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) is injured while being tackled by Los Angeles Rams defensive…INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 22: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Jaylen Warren…KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 27: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is pressured…Nov 6, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) breaks up…Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) avoids a tackle by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron…Sep 25, 2022; Glendale, Ariz., U.S.; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is sacked by Los…ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled…INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams pushes Joe Burrow…ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 17: Aaron Donald #99 of the St. Louis Rams celebrates after…Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws under pressure from Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron…Oct 3, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) pressures Seattle…Sep 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is pressured by…Dec 15, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is hit by Los…Sep 25, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) tackles Tampa…Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, above, sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, below,…November 11, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise (22) is brought…Dec 2, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) causes a…Sep 23, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) pressures…PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams hurries Mason Rudolph…PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams hurries Mason Rudolph…LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 15: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints injures his…Dec 27, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) sacks Seattle…Dec 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) reacts after…Oct 31, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) pressures Houston…Sep 25, 2022; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles out of the…Oct 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sacks Dallas…INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 03: Kareem Hunt #27 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball…
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