Aaron Donald: A Closer Look At The NFL Legend

Aaron Donald’s Wealth and Earnings

Hey there, let's dive into the life of Aaron Donald, one of the NFL's most celebrated defensive players. Aaron, a Pittsburgh native, has built an impressive net worth of $60 million over his illustrious career. Known for his time with the Los Angeles Rams, Donald earned unanimous All-American honors at the University of Pittsburgh before making waves in the NFL. Widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in football history, he cemented his legacy by winning Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in 2022. In March 2024, after a decade-long career, Aaron announced his retirement, leaving behind a legacy that will be hard to match.

Contract Highlights

Back in 2018, Aaron signed a massive six-year, $135 million contract with the Rams. Here's the kicker—$87 million of that was guaranteed. This deal made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history at that time, though records are always meant to be broken. T.J. Watt later surpassed this milestone with a $28 million annual deal from the Steelers. Between June 2018 and June 2019, Aaron raked in $40 million from salary and endorsements. Over ten seasons, he earned a whopping $157 million. At the time of his retirement announcement, Aaron was technically owed another $20 million. Whether he'll receive that remains to be seen.

Growing Up and High School Days

Aaron Donald's journey began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was born on May 23, 1991. Raised in the Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood by a hardworking family, Aaron attended Penn Hills High School. It was here that his football career began to take shape. During his senior year, Aaron recorded an impressive 63 tackles and 11 sacks, showcasing the talent that would eventually lead him to the NFL.

Read also:

Greta Gerwigrsquos Net Worth In 2024 A Journey Of Creativity And Financial Success

College Years

Aaron turned down scholarships from Akron, Rutgers, and Toledo to join the University of Pittsburgh. As a freshman, he played as a reserve defensive end in all 13 games, racking up 11 tackles. But it was his sophomore year that marked a turning point. Moving into the starting lineup, Aaron recorded 47 tackles and 11 sacks. By his junior year, he was posting 64 tackles and earning a first-team All-Big East selection. As a senior, Aaron became one of the most productive defensive players in the NCAA, with 59 tackles and 11 sacks. His performance earned him the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award and unanimous All-American honors.

St. Louis Rams: The Beginning

In the 2014 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams selected Aaron with the 13th overall pick in the first round. His regular-season debut came in September during a tough 6-34 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. However, just a few games later, Aaron recorded his first NFL sack in a 19-17 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. By October, he earned his first NFL start in a game against the San Francisco 49ers. By the end of his rookie season, Aaron had 47 tackles and nine sacks, earning him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.

A Breakout Season

The following year, Aaron started as a defensive tackle, recording nine tackles and two sacks in a season-opening win against the Seattle Seahawks. This performance earned him his first NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. In Week 14, he broke records with a career-high three sacks in a win against the Detroit Lions. By the end of the season, Aaron had 69 tackles and 11 sacks, landing him a first-team All-Pro selection.

Los Angeles Rams: A New Chapter

In 2016, the Rams moved to Los Angeles, marking a fresh start for Aaron. However, his season began with a hiccup when he was ejected during the fourth quarter of the season opener for making illegal contact with a referee. This cost him a fine of around $21,000. Despite this setback, Aaron bounced back, helping the Rams defeat the Arizona Cardinals and earning his third NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. However, trouble followed when he was fined again for unsportsmanlike behavior during a game against the Lions. Despite these issues, Aaron finished the season with 47 tackles and eight sacks, and went on to earn Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections.

Setting New Records

The 2018 season was a standout for Aaron. In October, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month, recognizing his 17 tackles and eight sacks. Later, in Week 16, he set a new single-season sack record with 19.5 total sacks, eventually finishing with 20.5. This performance earned him another first-team All-Pro selection and his second straight NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He even helped the Rams reach Super Bowl LIII, though they ultimately fell to the New England Patriots.

Los Angeles Rams: 2019 to 2021

Aaron continued his dominance in 2019, finishing with 48 tackles and 12.5 sacks. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 11 and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. The following season, he recorded 45 tackles and 13.5 sacks, earning another Pro Bowl selection and his third NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

Read also:

Anthony Edwards Net Worth 2024 Journey From Er To Film Success And Beyond

Super Bowl Championship

The 2021 season was a mix of challenges and triumphs for Aaron. In Week 12, he was fined $10,000 for choking Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Lucas Patrick. Later, in the Wild Card round, he faced trouble again for choking Cardinals offensive tackle D.J. Humphries. Despite these incidents, Aaron had an impressive regular-season record of 84 tackles and 12.5 sacks. He went on to help the Rams secure a 23-20 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, earning the team its first Super Bowl title since 1999 and its first in Los Angeles.

Life Beyond Football

Aaron’s personal life is just as fascinating as his career. He shares two children, Jaeda and Aaron Jr., with his ex-girlfriend Jaelynn Blakey. He later married Erica Sherman, a former marketing employee for the Los Angeles Rams who now works for the Hollywood production company game1. The couple has a son named Aaric.

Real Estate Empire

In March 2019, Aaron and Erica purchased a luxurious home in a Calabasas gated community, a neighborhood favored by celebrities, for $4.7 million. By April 2022, they decided to put this home on the market for $6.25 million, showcasing their savvy investment skills. Whether it sells at that price remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Aaron's influence extends far beyond the football field.