Aaron Donald’s two-word retirement message to Sean McVay after playoff heartbreak
Aaron Donald had enough to eat.
The generational Rams defensive tackle informed head coach Sean McVay on Jan. 15 that he would be hanging up his cleats in a two-word statement that summed up his appetite to play.
“I’m full,” Donald said to McVay on Jan. 15, according to Sports Illustrated.
And with that, one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the NFL officially began his trek toward Canton to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
McVay said he knew immediately what Donald meant when he addressed him inside his office the day after the Rams’ 24-23 loss to the Lions in the wild-card round on Jan. 14.
“I’m just like, And you should be. You have every right to feel that way,” McVay told SI. “What an amazing thing. The words won’t do justice to the way that he so eloquently articulated it to me and just put it in a way that, as a human being, all you’re really looking for is to be at peace and to be happy. He was full. And, man, did you feel that. You’re just so happy because he earned it too.”
Donald will be remembered as an all-time talent, a one-man wrecking machine who helped the Rams capture a Super Bowl in February 2022.
The 32-year-old earned Defensive Player of the Year honors for the 2017, 2018 and 2020 seasons, and also won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014.
He made the Pro Bowl in all 10 of his NFL seasons.
Donald tallied 111 sacks in his career, including a league-best 20.5 in 2018.
He registered eight this past season while helping the Rams return to the postseason.
“Cheers to what’s next. Extending a big thank you to the Rams and all of the fans for your support over these last 10 years. Much love,” Donald wrote on X.
McVay told Sports Illustrated he hopes Donald remains involved with the franchise.
“He’s welcome. I think the way that he lives on is you continue to honor his legacy and use him with the stories that you can tell to these guys. Fortunately, a lot of these guys have seen it, so when you reference it, they’ve seen it and you can use that as an example,” McVay said. “His legend will never go away. There are stories upon stories. There’s evidence on the film. I think the things that resonate the most are usually storytelling when you’re really trying to paint a picture or teach a lesson.
“And he’ll be someone that I reference for the rest of my life as long as I’m fortunate enough to be coaching.”
