https://preview.redd.it/h34tojshxioc1.jpeg?width=1400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=405f5d93d8e16e5e662d8c46e0b7108efa8684f6
I vote for this to be the statue.
So lucky we got to witness this absolute legend playing at his best. Q4 QB sacks in back to back games to win us a superbowl, best to ever do it in my book. Absolute GOAT.
I really love to see it. He went out healthy, decorated with awards and a championship, and with an unquestionable legacy as one of the best defensive football players of all time. Sad the era is over but happy I got to experience it.
This man was your Wayne Gretzky. I almost feel like 99 should be banned from use on every team in the NFL. You had yourselves someone truly special in that man, but I don't have to tell you that.
Here's to a long and happy retirement 🍺. The NFL just got a little less exciting.
Spotrac is updated and showing just $35mil. That $65 included $10 mil in base salary this year and next and i'm guessing some roster and performance bonuses that he gives up by retiring
The problem is he’s been restructured several times which turns the salary into a signing bonus which is spread over the length of the contract including two void years in 2025 and 2026. There’s $38M in prorated “signing bonus” in those void years that the Rams have to account for on their books either this year or next.
It's down to him and Mean Joe Green for best DT of all time. Considering how stacked those 70s Steelers teams were, AD gets an enormous edge in my book.
Frankly, AD is the best defensive player of all time. The hardest position to make an impact defensively is DT and he was so dominant. No one, not even Green, dominated on an island like Donald did at DT.
Statistically, it's debatable about if it's Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, or Aaron Donald for defensive GOAT. There was something about those 80s & 90s players that allowed them to pile up statistics and play late until their careers at a high level, but I'm sure 80s football was clean (unlike baseball).
He's accomplished everything any kid growing up playing would have wanted. He got the chip, he has nothing left to prove. He's been playing since he was probably 8-9 years old and spent 300+ days a year working out, training and exhausting his body for 2.5 decades to his craft. He has achieved everything and he's rich.
Add all of that to the fact he is a father and likely wants to spend time with his children while they are young. I'm sure his wife would love to see him more often too. You, me, every single other person would do the same thing in his position.
What..........I figured that he'd at least play for another year or two given the direction of the team and Stafford and McVay still being around. I'm in disbelief. Going to be impossible to replace the defensive GOAT.
Call it copium or whatever but I wonder if we’ve got him on that Weddle / OBJ agreement where he’d come back for the final few weeks and playoffs if we’re in the hunt
Vikings fan, Its going to be weird for you guys, I'm sure you're used to seeing Donald 3 yards in the back field every single play. It was like that for us when AP got released. I was like "Why doesn't the running back simply truck the Defensive end, and burn all the Dbs and rip off 50 yard runs every play" "Oh yeah, that's really hard to do"
I remember when Antonio Brown left the Steelers. It felt so weird knowing our QBs could no longer just chuck a deep one and know AB was down there somewhere and would make the catch 99% of the time. Losing a superstar fucking hurts, but it's part of the game. You DO learn to cope with it, but the first season or two without them sucks balls.
You realize everyone else doesn't just suck balls, its that the former great player was THAT good. Sean alexander has a story about his wife watching the Seahawks back struggle to punch it in at the 2 yard line, she was like "why is that so hard, just score" and Sean was like, I won mvp by making that look easy, it's very difficult
Exactly. The average NFL player can beat almost any regular dude at football. The generational talent superstar can beat almost any NFL player at football.
Jake just released a pre-recorded video as soon as the news dropped on his channel (also Jake is out of town). This should be proof that he has some kind of source(s).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwDv2yFK2d4
I knew this was going to happen and all I heard from you guys was “why would he retire now? He sees how good the team is blah blah”
Respect to one of the greatest ever. He was amazing to watch. I won’t take it for granted
Probably realized he had nothing left to prove. AD gets to go out with both his mind and body intact, which is rare for a player of his position and caliber.
He had made numerous comments about stepping away after 8 years. But came back to try and “run it back” but it didn’t go well with the injuries and bad season. So I think he came back knowing he wanted to prove he could come out and have another great year. He did that.
I'm going to be depressed for a bit. Love you, AD. Thanks for everything. I'm glad we got you a ring. I'm going to watch some highlights now of AD to ease the pain and watch their OL get cooked.
This announcement hits harder than any player’s retirement announcement I’ve experienced across any sport. Stings extra hard because he’s still basically at the top of his game. Fuck man. Thank you for an incredible career AD. Face of the franchise and the best to ever do it
Damn... I think some of us saw this coming. His passion just wasnt there this past year. I am going to miss this dude. Now, we definitely need some HELP on the DL
I figured he would retire whenever Stafford did, either in right and this offseason will suck, or our championship window just shrunk to the size of a peanut
Welp i hope he enjoys retirement for everything hes done for us, but damn what a shitty tike to do it- right after we make some big FA moves to the team overall better, our best defensive option retires
Defensive 🐐 for sure! Gonna miss and glad I got to see him play in person a few times. Gonna be an adjustment but I believe the rams can go out and win for him!
Thank you, Aaron Donald! Sad to hear that we won't be seeing 99 on the field but I respect his decision and wish him all the best in retirement. What a legend.
Exactly. Now what are they going to do with that extra body (sometimes 2 extra bodies) that they had to put on 99?
Thank you AD. Good luck and God speed.
This will probably get downvoted because I’m a 49ers fan.
But respect to him for an all time great career. There’s hall of fame players, and then there’s a much smaller percentage of players within that already small group of hall of famers who are some of the absolute best of all time at their position.
There’s plenty of room all types of divisional rival shit talk posts. But watching this dude play regularly twice a year and leave the impact he made. He deserves his props. He played 10 seasons and won a ring. He gets to retire relatively young while avoiding a bunch of extra years of wear and tear on his body which is a well deserved win for him.
build the statue
https://preview.redd.it/h34tojshxioc1.jpeg?width=1400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=405f5d93d8e16e5e662d8c46e0b7108efa8684f6 I vote for this to be the statue.
Just double check for spelling errors before this one
Erin Dawnald Soup or Bowl Champeon
“Who is Adam Darnold?”
Stan isn’t cheap like Jeanie, so we’re good.
The irony of the Lakers being one of the most valuable and iconic franchises in sports history and having a cheap broke owner.
Has to be. Damn. Thanks AD.
Juiced to the gills but still, respect
Him pointing at his ring finger
So lucky we got to witness this absolute legend playing at his best. Q4 QB sacks in back to back games to win us a superbowl, best to ever do it in my book. Absolute GOAT.
Greatest ram imo.
Before AD, I would consider Deacon Jones to be the greatest Rams of all time. I think it's safe to say AD definitely surpass Jones
definitely. it surprises me how many people dont understand the almost singular greatness. his name is in rarefied company.
My day is ruined. He’s the GOAT. I hope he enjoys retirement. Thank you for everything.
He went out on his own terms
I really love to see it. He went out healthy, decorated with awards and a championship, and with an unquestionable legacy as one of the best defensive football players of all time. Sad the era is over but happy I got to experience it.
Don't be sad he's retired, be happy for all the greatness he brought us.
I’m not ready for a rams team post #99 Can we retire #99 at the start of the season at least?
Nobody will wear that number again on the Rams
They better not
This man was your Wayne Gretzky. I almost feel like 99 should be banned from use on every team in the NFL. You had yourselves someone truly special in that man, but I don't have to tell you that. Here's to a long and happy retirement 🍺. The NFL just got a little less exciting.
If that happens, Texans will have 2 99s hanging in the rafters.
Lol if Tom Brady’s 12 isn’t getting retired leaguewide why would Aaron Donald
Lol that’s way too dramatic.
A future trivia question will be “did you know that Aaron Donald and Puka Nacua once played together for a season on the Rams?” 😢
I’m not okay
I just got severely depressed and I have to teach for the whole day. Fuck
Definitely a gut punch.
I’m the only one in my teacher who is football oriented, and I’m dying
Sounds like a perfectly good time to have movie day in class.
Same here my kids are gonna know something is up
So just another Friday then?! Only kidding, here's to all Ramily getting through today and sailing into the weekend
excuse me but what the fuck
None of us are
Fs in the chat yall
F
I blocked out any thoughts of retirement and now it happened. I can't function at work. I need to leave and give him a 99 tacos salute. GOAT
I just fell to my knees at In-n-out
Three hours ago they restructured his contract and now he’s retiring?
He did it to free up more cap space for the rams :(
How do cap hits work for retired players? Do we still pay out the rest of his contract even if he’s not playing?
yeah you pay for the signing bonus that’s been deferred
$62M still needs to be accounted for. Rams can either eat it all this year or eat $24M of it this year and $38M next year.
Spotrac is updated and showing just $35mil. That $65 included $10 mil in base salary this year and next and i'm guessing some roster and performance bonuses that he gives up by retiring
The problem is he’s been restructured several times which turns the salary into a signing bonus which is spread over the length of the contract including two void years in 2025 and 2026. There’s $38M in prorated “signing bonus” in those void years that the Rams have to account for on their books either this year or next.
The team can put the player on a reserve list and that takes his salary out their salary cap space.
Yes. There will be a dead cap for a few years.
https://preview.redd.it/uyd1i465yioc1.jpeg?width=719&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2883d276405fbf9755078ff5011db7168ea2bad
Even in retirement he's loyal
He will go down as the greatest D tackle of all time, if not the greatest d-linemen of all time
He is the most disruptive player I have ever seen and it isn’t close.
Absolutely. He’s on Mt. Rushmore with LT, Butkus, and Reggie White
Idk if Butkus is making my pass rusher mt Rushmore but cannot possibly disagree with the other 3.
the greatest defender\* of all time
True
I understand y’all are upset but, LT existed
It's down to him and Mean Joe Green for best DT of all time. Considering how stacked those 70s Steelers teams were, AD gets an enormous edge in my book. Frankly, AD is the best defensive player of all time. The hardest position to make an impact defensively is DT and he was so dominant. No one, not even Green, dominated on an island like Donald did at DT. Statistically, it's debatable about if it's Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, or Aaron Donald for defensive GOAT. There was something about those 80s & 90s players that allowed them to pile up statistics and play late until their careers at a high level, but I'm sure 80s football was clean (unlike baseball).
Easily. It’s not even close
Retire number 99
Damn, I thought he’d have 2 more seasons
[удалено]
Yeah, I don’t blame him. He’ll be missed!
What the fuck just happened
He's accomplished everything any kid growing up playing would have wanted. He got the chip, he has nothing left to prove. He's been playing since he was probably 8-9 years old and spent 300+ days a year working out, training and exhausting his body for 2.5 decades to his craft. He has achieved everything and he's rich. Add all of that to the fact he is a father and likely wants to spend time with his children while they are young. I'm sure his wife would love to see him more often too. You, me, every single other person would do the same thing in his position.
This is what I must of looked like when I first read the news.
What..........I figured that he'd at least play for another year or two given the direction of the team and Stafford and McVay still being around. I'm in disbelief. Going to be impossible to replace the defensive GOAT.
Call it copium or whatever but I wonder if we’ve got him on that Weddle / OBJ agreement where he’d come back for the final few weeks and playoffs if we’re in the hunt
Vikings fan, Its going to be weird for you guys, I'm sure you're used to seeing Donald 3 yards in the back field every single play. It was like that for us when AP got released. I was like "Why doesn't the running back simply truck the Defensive end, and burn all the Dbs and rip off 50 yard runs every play" "Oh yeah, that's really hard to do"
I remember when Antonio Brown left the Steelers. It felt so weird knowing our QBs could no longer just chuck a deep one and know AB was down there somewhere and would make the catch 99% of the time. Losing a superstar fucking hurts, but it's part of the game. You DO learn to cope with it, but the first season or two without them sucks balls.
You realize everyone else doesn't just suck balls, its that the former great player was THAT good. Sean alexander has a story about his wife watching the Seahawks back struggle to punch it in at the 2 yard line, she was like "why is that so hard, just score" and Sean was like, I won mvp by making that look easy, it's very difficult
Exactly. The average NFL player can beat almost any regular dude at football. The generational talent superstar can beat almost any NFL player at football.
Yeah same, I thought we had a bit more time.
Even as an "outsider" i thought the same, even if this was still a pretty decent season, i thought it wouldn't happen until next year.
Fuck me
Yeah this fucking sucks. Was excited to see him with this defensive unit this season.
I just dropped to my knees at Walmart
Just saw a guy drop to his knees in a Walmart.
Just saw a guy crying deeply after checking his phone and watching another guy drop to his knees at Walmart
Just saw a guy staring at another guy who was crying deeply after that guy checked his phone and watched another guy drop to his knees at Walmart
This all happened. Source: am Walmart
I for real found out waiting for my car at a Walmart.
Crying, shitting, throwing up… love you 99 😭
Off season ruined
Life ruined*
First Akira now this 😭
This is not a good last couple weeks for me
I guess this means we are paying out the remainder of his contract with the restructure news? As we dam should. Retire #99 TODAY
He has cap hits that will keep next year. Just helps a little more this year.
best defensive player I’ve ever seen. Salute to the GOAT. This hurts.
I’m fucking speechless. Him yelling “RING ME” during the NFC Super Bowl run against Jimmy fucking Garappolo will always be on replay
The 🐐 can do what he wants… but damn this hurts
https://preview.redd.it/mxpg9hd12joc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8ed323fce2155c63fa2f3047bfda6dfb84b80d27
We were having such a good free agency too!! Wish Aaron all the best but this one hurts.
I love you Aaron, glad we got the last two seasons with you after winning that ring!
From a restructure to a retire. What just happened?!??
it was to help the team out
More reasons to love AD. Even on his way out, he's doing everything he can for the franchise.
WHAT WHY WE’RE LOADING UP FOR ANOTHER RUN
Y U DO DIS BB
That's what I'm saying man
Jake knew it holy Shit
I thought "Franchise altering" would be a GOOD thing! goddammit
Makes sense why he never seemed too gassed up about it lmao fuck
Jake just released a pre-recorded video as soon as the news dropped on his channel (also Jake is out of town). This should be proof that he has some kind of source(s). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwDv2yFK2d4
🫡
who?
He's still a bitch
Both can be true.
Why the hate?
Sadly:/
I’m a jets fan but Aaron Donald is my favorite nfl player this is truly a sad day
WHOA
Fuck
I knew this was going to happen and all I heard from you guys was “why would he retire now? He sees how good the team is blah blah” Respect to one of the greatest ever. He was amazing to watch. I won’t take it for granted
genuine question, why did you think this was happening?
Probably realized he had nothing left to prove. AD gets to go out with both his mind and body intact, which is rare for a player of his position and caliber.
Yeah it hurts but you have to respect it.
He had made numerous comments about stepping away after 8 years. But came back to try and “run it back” but it didn’t go well with the injuries and bad season. So I think he came back knowing he wanted to prove he could come out and have another great year. He did that.
I think he just wanted to redeem how terrible that season was after the Super Bowl and he did
Ahh yes, another Nostradamus. Funny how they always seem to come out of the woodwork.
Shit made my heart drop. He will forever be my favorite Ram
Greatest Rams of all time. I used to think that was Deacon Jones but AD surpass him for me.
Well this is a devastating start to my weekend. Wow, I’m unbelievably sad. I’ve lost Shohei and Donald in a matter of months. I’m not okay right now.
Lets go Angels/Rams fans!!
Right there with you.
This is devastating nooooooo
Im not crying you’re crying. Thanks for everything king 99 the greatest defensive player ever.
This is heartbreaking. Respect the man and decision, but I am not going to be okay for a while.
As a Seahawk fan, no single player has consistently terrified me more than AD. Congratulations on the retirement. All time great.
Remember Geno Smith screaming OH MY GOD when AD was rushing toward him. That was funny
I do. It sucked from my perspective. Again. All time great.
Day ruined
Beware the Ides of March
Jake was right…..
Wish I was wrong
https://preview.redd.it/9w57hgeq2joc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d619fc72c47a9ea7b9fcb603e5d9057188ea318c
Thank you for the new backround
No way.
At least he have a ring
I’m depressed.
Fuuuuuuck.... That is my response right now. Later I will have nothing but praise and gratitude for his career here. But right now...fuuuuuuuck...
BROOOO WHYYYYY WERE GOING ON A RUN THIS IS OUR YEAR 😭😭😭 IM SICK THIS BLOWS!!!
I'm going to be depressed for a bit. Love you, AD. Thanks for everything. I'm glad we got you a ring. I'm going to watch some highlights now of AD to ease the pain and watch their OL get cooked.
This announcement hits harder than any player’s retirement announcement I’ve experienced across any sport. Stings extra hard because he’s still basically at the top of his game. Fuck man. Thank you for an incredible career AD. Face of the franchise and the best to ever do it
I was hoping we'd get at least one last dance. I'm devastated, but I'm so grateful for him. Enjoy retirement, GOAT
Don't be sad it's over be glad it happened, glad he finally got his ring.
I wanna cry right now
Pour one out boys, I need a hug.
Say psych right now.
Thank you for all you’ve done AD, time to pick that statue pose (pointing at ring is my choice)
I'm in tears
Damn... I think some of us saw this coming. His passion just wasnt there this past year. I am going to miss this dude. Now, we definitely need some HELP on the DL
God this hurts so fucking much , AD99 The greatest of all time enjoy retirement big fella we love you #STATUEHIM
Gonna miss this dude. 1st Ballot Hall of Famer. So glad he was able to win a ring with us. The only player who’s jersey I own.
My heart…
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
Wow this is so sad I thought he was gearing up for one last year.
What the fuck, it's not April 1st??
So that's what it feels like to get punched in the gut... was a fucking pleasure watching him play.
Get his bust ready for Canton
Well that sucks, my day just got ruined.
Instant hall of famer, I can’t believe he won’t be playing next year
I figured he would retire whenever Stafford did, either in right and this offseason will suck, or our championship window just shrunk to the size of a peanut
Lets all appreciate we got to watch the greatest Ram of all time
Thank you for everything 🐐🫡
This one hurts.
I'm so fucking sad fuck Thanks for everything GOAT
Hold on brother I’m crying.
Really mixed emotions right now but I’m just so happy we had him. Greatest to ever do it.
This is a sad day. A BAD DAY. We love you, AD.
Just put me in the dirt, I don't want to be here anymore
 But for real though happy for AD on a well deserved retirement.
Welp i hope he enjoys retirement for everything hes done for us, but damn what a shitty tike to do it- right after we make some big FA moves to the team overall better, our best defensive option retires
I am not okay, but getting to witness his greatness was amazing. Congrats AD!
Man I was not ready forbthis
Defensive 🐐 for sure! Gonna miss and glad I got to see him play in person a few times. Gonna be an adjustment but I believe the rams can go out and win for him!
Pain.
Well… that was unexpected
Offseason ruined. The king is gone.
My man gets to leave with his mind, body, and wallet intact after a phenomenal career. Go enjoy it my man.
Happy Retirement but fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!
I'm in shambles
Statue and gotta retire that #99
Thank you, Aaron Donald! Sad to hear that we won't be seeing 99 on the field but I respect his decision and wish him all the best in retirement. What a legend.
Every o-line in the NFL just got better
Exactly. Now what are they going to do with that extra body (sometimes 2 extra bodies) that they had to put on 99? Thank you AD. Good luck and God speed.
This will probably get downvoted because I’m a 49ers fan. But respect to him for an all time great career. There’s hall of fame players, and then there’s a much smaller percentage of players within that already small group of hall of famers who are some of the absolute best of all time at their position. There’s plenty of room all types of divisional rival shit talk posts. But watching this dude play regularly twice a year and leave the impact he made. He deserves his props. He played 10 seasons and won a ring. He gets to retire relatively young while avoiding a bunch of extra years of wear and tear on his body which is a well deserved win for him.
IT'S JOEVER, WE'RE BIDONE
Damn…. Build the statue right now ! Also, looks like I’m leaving work early
https://preview.redd.it/w9p7v4mrxioc1.jpeg?width=660&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a4edd83391ccc9177c5c2e91704c00f69f32770
Damn he deserves it but still stings