When any team was up against the Los Angeles Rams, Aaron Donald was the first player that came to mind. The eight-time First-Team All-Pro announced his retirement on Friday. In honor of one of the greatest defensive players of all time retiring, here’s a look back at his most terrifying moments versus the New Orleans Saints, whom Donald faced seven times.
The first memorable event occurs in 2019. Donald rushed past Andrus Peat and attempted to swat Drew Brees’ pass, striking the quarterback’s thumb in the process. Brees suffered ligament injury to his thumb and missed the next five games.
Donald only has two career sacks in seven games against New Orleans, but he did have 11 tackles for loss. Donald played with the Rams, who were 4-3 against the Saints.
The first of Donald’s two sacks occurred in the second quarter of a 2016 game. The Saints triumphed 49-21, but not before Donald flattened Brees (after once again blowing past Peat) and forced a fumble early in the second quarter. The strip sack gave the Rams a 14-7 lead, the last time they scored more than New Orleans.
His other sack came a season later, on the first drive of the game. Robert Quinn followed up with another sack, forcing the Saints to punt. New Orleans finally fell by 26-20.
The famed defensive tackle was also present during the infamous missed pass interference call in the 2018-19 NFC Championship Game. Donald did not record any sacks in the Rams’ victory, but he did register two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits on Brees.
Prior to the NFC Championship game, former Saints and current Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton was aware that Donald was an issue for his offense.
“I mean, arguably and I don’t know even if it’s an argument, [Donald is] the best defensive player today in football,” Payton said in an interview with NFL.com. “His numbers, his production, it shows up in the run game, it shows up in the passing game and it’s a challenge.”
NFL offenses can breathe a sigh of relief now that Donald will not be playing against them again.
Uh oh…Drew Brees injured as Aaron Donald hits what looks to be his thumb #Saints pic.twitter.com/SRgotf44MB
— Mark Powell (@mp2_pgh) September 15, 2019
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