Super Bowl LVI: Is Aaron Donald the greatest defensive player ever?

Another memorable Super Bowl is in the books, with the LA Rams becoming World Champions for the first time since 1999.

There have been many talking points following the Los Angeles Rams’ 23-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, but one takeaway from the game is certain; Aaron Donald is the best and baddest player in football.

The 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year put in yet another dominant display to help as LA came back from 20-13 in the third quarter to go on and lift the Lombardi Trophy.

While star wide receiver Cooper Kupp won the Super Bowl MVP scored two touchdowns to win the Super Bowl MVP award and cap off a career year, it was Donald who came up with the game winning play.,

After outrageously pulling Samaje Perine back from making a first down on the previous third-and-1 play, 30-year-old Donald disrupted the Bengals offensive line before pulling off a brutal tackle on quarterback Joe Burrow with 33 seconds to go.

Donald helped the Rams had a pass rush win rate of 82% against the Bengals, the single-game NFL best in the 2022 postseason.

“I’m just so happy,” said Donald. “I wanted this so bad. I dreamed this.

“One last play and we’re world champs… We made it.”

It’s been another dominant year all round for the star interior lineman. Despite missing out on adding another Defensive Player of the Year award after that went to TJ Watt, Donald continued to perform consistently at the highest level, registering the most snaps ever recorded from an interior defensive lineman over a season (per PFF).

In total, Donald had more than 100 pressures throughout 2021 and the postseason, a feat he’s now achieved in four of the last five seasons.

With eight Pro Bowls selections and making the 2010s All-Decade team, his career was undoubtedly a Hall of Fame resume already.

But following Sunday’s victory, Donald has won everything there is to win in the sport.

BEST EVER?

Now, there is debate as to whether he can be regarded as the greatest ever defensive player.

Former NFL quarterback turned ESPN analyst Dan Orlosky made the claim following Super Bowl LVI that Donald is “in the conversation” for being the best defensive player in the history of the NFL.

He’s the only player in the Super Bowl era to have seven straight first team All-Pro selections and if he stays healthy, there is doubt he could make many more. Getting to nine would put him above any defensive player in history.

They’ll be many who would argue for other greats to be ahead of Donald as the top players in history, such as the likes of Lawrence Taylor, Rod Woodson or the late great Reggie White.

White, like Donald, could dominate from the outside or inside of the defensive line, has 198 sacks to his name, two behind former defensive end Bruce Smith.

Donald currently has a century less with 98 and while he has averaged over 12 sacks a year since being drafted thirteenth overall in the 2014 NFL draft, he would need to play for at least another eight years at that pace if he wants to get anywhere close to White and Smith numbers.

Yet, regardless of sack statistics, Taylor peaked in his late twenties and never made a first-team All-Pro after hitting 30.

Donald remains top of current players list in his position and given his performance against the Bengals, there is no sign of him slowing down.

But if, as it has been speculated, he does retire, Aaron Donald fully deserves his place alongside the greats, way beyond Canton.

There is no doubt he is right up there with the very, very best.