When Aaron Donald finally hangs up his shoulder pads and helmet, he will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest NFL players of all time. Heck, he’s in the conversation for the best defender ever. Period.
Even after a down 2022 season by Donald’s astronomically high standards, it should be no surprise he’s still viewed as an unstoppable game-breaker. Build up goodwill like three Defensive Player of the Year awards and seven First-Team All-Pro selections, and it’ll be hard for anyone to knock you down a peg.
The proof is in the pixelated pudding. Donald earned his seventh-straight 99 overall rating in Madden 24 on Tuesday — the most all-time in the video game franchise’s history.
And it’s some of the least surprising news of the football offseason.
Most appearances in Madden history 😱
Welcome back @AaronDonald97 💪 #99Club #Madden24 pic.twitter.com/tXUAvgmug2
— Madden NFL 24 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 18, 2023
I respect Donald’s greatness. I count myself as one of the people who would name him the best defender in football history. There has never been more of a dominant interior pass rusher who could carry a defensive unit by himself like Donald.
He is in a class all to his own.
On the flip side, Donald’s best days are likely behind him. The 2022 season was the first time Donald missed more than one game in a campaign since the 2017 season. The difference this time around is he’s 32 years old with over 7,600 snaps of mileage. His performance could theoretically fall off a cliff at any moment.
With that said, the coming next few years might be the last we see of a true titan of the sport. And he’ll still be elite, and he’ll still be worthy of the highest virtual recognition.
We should appreciate Donald (even) more while we still can.
