LeBron James & Magic Johnson Reached Out to LA Rams Legend Aaron Donald After Retirement

Aaron Donald started playing football in St. Louis and became one of the most renowned sports stars in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old’s influence went beyond just football. He’s now remembered alongside famous athletes like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The DT recently retired from the NFL after a successful career, and received immense support from fellow sports icons like LeBron James and Magic Johnson. Despite ending his time with the Rams, Donald’s contributions were celebrated, leaving a lasting impact on Los Angeles sports history.

Donald grateful for the support

In a heartfelt interview on ‘Green Light with Chris Long,’ Donald shared the overwhelming response he received from renowned figures like LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Kevin Durant. Reflecting on the congratulatory messages, Donald expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from athletes who are considered legends in their own right.

Donald shared during the interview, “A lot of people reached out, Like, LeBron (James) reached out. Magic Johnson reached out. (Kevin) Durant reached out. A lot of people that are great players and great in their era and did a lot of great things reached out just to congratulate me on my career. It’s pretty special, bro, when you think about how many people reached out. Warren Sapp reached out.” He further expressed that LeBron is pretty famous, so he was really overwhelmed with Lebron and other star players’ messages.

However, Aaron Donald shares similarities with one of these legends. And that is none other than the basketball superstar Magic Johnson.

Aaron Donald: Reshaping the Rams

Aaron Donald changed the Los Angeles Rams just like Magic Johnson changed the Lakers. Lakers’ owner, Jerry Buss, discovered Magic Johnson and he transformed the team into a dynasty. Similarly, Donald, a dominant force in football, reshaped the Rams with his incredible skills. Both players, despite playing different sports, shared the ability to transcend their respective games and become icons. 

The DT redefining his role in football and introduced an additional dimension to the position. “His agility and his quickness and his balance–those are his superpowers,” McFarland said to USA TODAY. “And that’s how he played the game.” Donald revolutionized the way defensive linemen played by emphasizing speed and disruption from the interior rather than just brute force.

Donald’s ability to penetrate offensive lines and disrupt plays from the inside created chaos for opposing quarterbacks and offenses. This disruptive style of play forced teams to adjust their game plans, leading to a greater emphasis on interior pass rush and creative defensive schemes. McFarland rightly added, “There’s nothing else left for him to accomplish in this game. I think he walks away a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”

Read more: “Aaron Donald, Can You Shut the Hell Up?”: Having Nearly Gotten His ‘A** Chewed’ Out, Puka Nacua Reveals Rams Legend’s Hilarious Antics