NFL community reacts to Aaron Donald's retirement on social media

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Eight-time All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald announced his retirement from football on Friday after 10 seasons in the NFL, concluding the career of one of the best defenders of his generation.

The longtime Los Angeles Rams DT ends a Hall of Fame-bound career with 111.0 sacks, 260 QB hits, 176 tackles for loss and 24 forced fumbles. The 32-year-old’s accolades include 10 Pro Bowls, eight first-team All-Pros, three AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, the 2014 NFL AP Defensive Rookie Player of the Year award and one Super Bowl ring.

Here’s a collection of appreciation posts from the NFL community that flooded social media:

pic.twitter.com/Ex0gGRpJtX

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 15, 2024

THANK GOD.

— Kyler Murray (@K1) 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

One of the greatest to ever play the game.

Period.

Congratulations @AaronDonald97

One hell of a career.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 15, 2024

Aaron Donald

3x Defensive Player of the Year
8x First-Team All-Pro
Pro Bowler in every season (10x)
2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year
Super Bowl LVI Champion

One of the greatest careers of all-time. pic.twitter.com/LOPuOcg1SM

— NFL (@NFL) March 15, 2024

Damn the amount of respect I have for @AaronDonald97 Brother you did it all and every d tackle is measured against your success. Job well done! Enjoy retirement!

— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) March 15, 2024

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

Offensive lines had 99 problems… and they were all @AaronDonald97. pic.twitter.com/z9eo41O0eS

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 15, 2024

Enjoy your retirement 99. The work u put in on that gridiron is unmatched.

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 15, 2024

I can still remember Bill in the meetings before Super Bowl XLIV saying…”he will single-handedly destroy the f%@kin game” @AaronDonald97 was a beast.

— Devin McCourty (@devinmccourty) March 15, 2024

The definition of DOMINANT. Congrats on an amazing career @AaronDonald97 enjoy retirement https://t.co/4NLnlaEM1Y

— Eric Dickerson (@EricDickerson) March 15, 2024

One of the best do ever play the position! Congrats on an amazing career bro! https://t.co/qtAVTNeRER

— Tyler Lockett (@TDLockett12) March 15, 2024

Much respect to 99.. one of the greatest of all time but still a Pitt Panther .. enjoyed every matchup from college to the pros.
Well wishes always!@AaronDonald97

— Geno (@GenoSmith3) March 15, 2024

One of the best players to ever grace a football field. https://t.co/tNroN3Zu0k

— Johnny Hekker (@JHekker) March 15, 2024

https://t.co/x0H9fPCd56 pic.twitter.com/5jnkrU0IOs

— kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 15, 2024

❕ Congrats dawg @AaronDonald97

DAMN https://t.co/wOaaRGVBFl

— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) March 15, 2024

The G.O.A.T. pic.twitter.com/Tu90oSajFC

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 15, 2024

There is not much one can add when the world is celebrating the greatest defensive player of all time.

Simply put he changed our franchise, the NFL & always led with his work ethic, humility and grace. A bittersweet day for @RamsNFL fans but we were blessed for a decade https://t.co/H9UH7HwFxi

— Kevin Demoff (@kdemoff) March 15, 2024

The moment Aaron Donald realized he was a Super Bowl Champ

(via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/RFGCUckaCa

— NFL (@NFL) March 15, 2024

My personal favorite and GOAT defensive player, for sure of my generation but possibly all time just called it quits and it’s a sad day in the NFL!! But a joyous one for my guy!! Love you bro!! @AaronDonald97 enjoy retirement kid!! ✊

— Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) March 15, 2024

Best day ever!! Staying in SF and AD retiring

— Jonathan Feliciano (@MongoFeliciano) March 15, 2024

End of an era. @AaronDonald97 changed the game for interior DL. He is the Lawrence Taylor of our generation. Every DT should thank him for the contracts they have now and every offense guard should thank him as well for getting paid to try and block him! I hated going against you…

— Justin Pugh (@JustinPugh) March 15, 2024