Retiring Aaron Donald was the face of the Rams and the reason they hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl LVI. Never has there been a bigger void to fill.
For years he had remained hidden, lost underneath a giant helmet, buried in a defensive line.
He was a star who behaved like a stunt man, doing the dirty work, punishing his body, disappearing into the scrum.
He was the most important Ram that nobody knew, the greatest player that nobody saw, the biggest force with the fewest cheers.
Then, finally, it happened. The deciding play of Super Bowl LVI happened.
Aaron Donald happened.
The Cincinnati Bengals were driving toward a potential game-tying field goal in the final seconds of the 2022 championship game at Sofi Stadium when Donald swiped past a guard and eluded the center and put both giant hands on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Donald was in the process of flinging Burrow to the ground when the quarterback rushed a wobbly pass that fell incomplete and, then, finally, everyone saw and everyone knew.
The Rams were Super Bowl champions. And Aaron Donald had led them there.
Now that he’s gone, the Rams will never be the same.
Donald announced his retirement Friday, ending a 10-year career spent entirely with the Rams, mostly in the opponents’ backfield, and always with his arms around somebody.
Now that he’s gone, the void will be as huge as those biceps.
He was as steady as the Hollywood sign and as enduring as the TCL Chinese Theatre handprints, yet instead of embracing the glitz, he celebrated the growl.
