Sean McVay, the head coach of Los Angeles Rams, has paid a touching tribute to Aaron Donald following his surprise retirement.
Donald announced his exit from the NFL on Friday in a heartfelt social media post, saying he was ready for the "next chapter" of his life.
"For 10 years, I have been fortunate to play the game of football at the highest level," he wrote. "I'm thankful for the people I've met along the way, the relationships I've built and the things I've accomplished with my teammates and individually... I appreciate everyone on the field, off the field and behind the scenes that made my job smooth."
The news came as a shock to many Rams fans, especially since Los Angeles had just restructured Donald's contract to create $9.2million (£7.2m) in cap space this year. Yet it seems there is no bad blood between Donald and Rams head coach McVay.
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"The great players in our league elevate the people around them and Aaron has modelled the way for our team as long as I’ve been with the Rams,” McVay said in a statement. “He’s an elite competitor, someone who leads by example in a way that’s authentic to him, and an exceptional teammate who inspires everyone around him to be the best version of themselves.
"As great of a player he is, he’s an even better person. He is truly one of one and epitomises everything that’s right about sports. I will forever cherish the memories we’ve made and will always be grateful for how he poured everything into this game and into our team. He’s meant a lot to me personally and to my family."
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Sean McVay issued a heartfelt message to Aaron Donald (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)Rams team owner and chairman Stan Kroenke echoed McVay's sentiment. He wrote: "We are so grateful for Aaron’s dedication to greatness and for leading our franchise on and off the field for the past decade.
"He has left his mark on generations of football fans and his accomplishments, coupled with his work ethic and passion, continue to inspire his teammates, coaches and athletes across the globe. It is a privilege to have witnessed one of the greatest players of all time and we are proud that Aaron Donald will forever be part of NFL history as a member of the Rams."
Over 154 career games with the Rams, Donald amassed 111 sacks - a franchise record - 260 quarterback hits and 176 tackles for loss.
While Donald's teammates will surely miss playing with him, his opponents can let out a sigh of relief now that they no longer have to face the icon. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray took to X on hearing his retirement and hilariously wrote: "THANK GOD."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.
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