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Inglewood, CA - February 13: Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams hugs Cooper Kupp to celebrate after the Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in the NFL Super Bowl LVI football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, on Sunday, February 13, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey & More Reactions To Rams Star Aaron Donald Announcing Retirement

Originally posted on Rams Newswire | By Daniel Starkand | Last updated 3/15/24

Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald shocked the NFL world on Friday morning when he announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons.

Donald had flirted with the idea of retirement the last couple of offseasons so everyone knew it was coming at some point. But considering he was still playing at such a high level in 2023 and the Rams are building towards getting back into championship contention, the consensus was that Donald had at least one more season left in him.

No one is more deserving of being able to go out on their own terms than Donald though as he is arguably the greatest defensive player of all time and gave his all to the organization for a decade.

Because of that, Friday is a day of celebration and a number of people from the Rams and NFL family like Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey, Bobby Brown, Jordan Fuller, Andrew Whitworth, Torry Holt, Kyler Murray and J.J. Watt paid their respects to Donald:

Thankful to have been able to watch, learn from, and play alongside one of the best to ever do it. Appreciate you @AaronDonald97!

Feel sorry for whoever has to line up across from you, in whatever it is you want to do next!

— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) March 15, 2024

pic.twitter.com/trX69ghQ6A

— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) March 15, 2024

Blessed to have played this game alongside you. There will never be another Aaron Donald https://t.co/HCpGhrAwlz

— Ernest Jones (@ernestjones53) March 15, 2024

Enjoy retirement OG well deserved & well earned. The greatest to ever do it pic.twitter.com/Z0DJnGkUOx

— Bobby Brown III (@bobbyiii5) March 15, 2024

The !
Love you brother!
Thx for being you! https://t.co/OJzG8b1Y5u

— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) March 15, 2024

Listen #99 is a NFL !
But the takeaway for me didn’t happen on game days.

Watching the most relentless, selfless, hardest working athlete I ever been around. -That’s what I walked away with

(1of1 Talent + elite work ethic + rare toughness + humble spirit +no excuses + we…

— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) March 15, 2024

Congrats dawg @AaronDonald97

DAMN https://t.co/wOaaRGVBFl

— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) March 15, 2024

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME @AaronDonald97 ! DAMN IT WAS AN HONOR FR

Happy Retirement pic.twitter.com/WuE3ClupcA

— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) March 15, 2024

Honored to have competed against the best of All-Time! @AaronDonald97

Enjoy ya retirement and plz don’t come back. pic.twitter.com/DcVhCMw0vv

— Kyler Murray (@K1) March 15, 2024

The greatest!! Big congratulations https://t.co/lKiYMKlP7Q

— Jordan Fuller (@j_fuller4) March 15, 2024

Decade of Dominance!
A TRUE
Thank you, 99!! pic.twitter.com/uiq83uaTWt

— Torry Holt (@AllHands81) March 15, 2024

One of the greatest to ever play the game.

Period.

Congratulations @AaronDonald97

One hell of a career.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 15, 2024

The respect and admiration that Donald had from his peers was easy to see all throughout his career. While it’s unfortunate that we won’t be able to see him dominate on the Rams’ defensive line anymore, quarterbacks around the league are surely happy they won’t have to see No. 99 on the other side of the field.

If this is indeed the end for Donald then he will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2029, where he surely will be elected on the first ballot.