“There will never be another Aaron Donald,” Rams GM Les Snead once said. Well, in the light of the same, it seems even retirement can’t slow down the NFL’s most dominant defender of the last decade. The defensive tackle just proved he’s still got lightning in his cleats, leaving a fellow NFL legend in the dust.

In a jaw-dropping display of athleticism, Aaron Donald, the recently retired Los Angeles Rams star, outpaced former NFL running back LeSean McCoy in a foot race. The unexpected showdown, captured on video by ex-Rams receiver DeSean Jackson, has set the football world abuzz. Jackson’s excited “Oh sh-t!” punctuates the moment Donald blazes past McCoy, leaving the former running back in his wake.

This is no ordinary friendly competition among former players. Instead, we have Aaron Donald who has 111 sacks (which is third for a defensive tackle) and broke the record with 176 tackles for a loss racing against LeSean “Shady” McCoy, a two-time Super Bowl winner with 11,102 rushing yards in his career. This is an unexpected clash of the greats.

Donald’s post-retirement prowess shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with his legendary work ethic. As Cooper Kupp revealed to ‘Games With Names’ in May 2024, Donald’s training regimen was inspired by none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. “I’ve actually worked out with him,” Kupp shared. “I went and worked out with him one time. Tell me the time, show up an hour and a half straight of arms.”

But The Rock wasn’t Donald’s only motivator. In a candid chat on the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long back in April, Donald admitted that Antonio Brown’s intense training sessions pushed him to new limits. “I’d feel like I got a good workout in, and then I’d be seeing his stuff, and he’d post a second workout that day, and I’d feel like, damn, I feel like he outworking me,” Donald explained.

This relentless drive propelled Donald to three Defensive Player of the Year awards and a crucial role in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory. Remember his game-sealing hit on Joe Burrow? That’s the kind of moment that cements legacies.

A legacy that keeps on giving

Even in retirement, Donald’s impact on the NFL remains undeniable. As recently as August 2024, NFL.com reported that Donald returned to Rams practice, offering pointers to the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula couldn’t contain his excitement: “It’s great to see him. The cool thing was seeing him give some tips to Fiske and I’m standing there listening.”

This mentorship role is a new chapter in Donald’s storied career. As Jourdan Rodrigue wrote for The Athletic in March 2024, “He showed up for the young guys the Rams brought in, and in many ways found new joy in being around them.” Donald’s race against McCoy is more than just a viral moment. It’s a reminder of the enduring impact these players have on the sport.

As McCoy prepares for his Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame induction on November 3, 2024, this friendly competition highlights the lasting legacies of both players. For Donald, retirement seems to be just another challenge to conquer. With the Rams keeping his locker open “if he ever wants to come back,” according to Kupp, who knows what the future holds?

One thing’s for sure – whether he’s sacking quarterbacks or outrunning running backs, Aaron Donald continues to defy expectations and inspire a new generation of players. In the words of Mike Tomlin, who’s known Donald since he was 18, “He’s just a ridiculous worker.” And as this race proves, exit from the NFL hasn’t changed that one bit.