Aaron Donald of the Rams has earned the right to decide his own NFL timeline. Los Angeles Rams Blog

INGLEWOOD CA — In the closing seconds of Super Bowl LVII Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron DonaldYou jumped off the line and ran past Cincinnati BengalsGuard left Quinton SpainThere is no lesser than the Lombardi Trophy at stake.

Donald was more than a Bengals quarterback chaser Joe Burrow. He was looking for football immortality.

Donald was finally able to grab the last piece of his football puzzle. This was the moment he had been waiting for all his life. Donald and the Rams were the world champions after they managed to get hold of Burrow and force an error incompletion.

The play came as no surprise given Donald’s long-standing reputation for being the best defensive player in football. There are still many questions about Donald’s dominance.

Rodney Harrison of NBC brought up the topic on the Super Bowl pregame broadcast. He mentioned that Donald said to him: “There’s a strong chance” he could retire if Rams win the Super Bowl.

All indications point to Donald returning. Reporters were told this week by Les Snead, general manager, that Donald’s retirement was “not a concern”. It’s clear that Donald has been thinking about it, but a lucrative extension to his contract would alleviate any concerns about an imminent retirement.

Donald repeatedly said, “I’m just here right now,” after his victory-sealing hit against Burrow.

Whatever doubt Donald’s preSuper Bowl words might have sown there is one thing that should not be disputed: he has the right and freedom to do whatever he pleases in whatever timeframe he chooses.

Donald expressed an interest in returning for at least a ninth year after the Rams were crowned world champs. This has sometimes been contingent on the team being able to bring back any pending free agents, such as edge rusher. Von MillerBoth the receiver and sender Odell Beckham Jr. The Rams are able to “run it back.”

A Donald retirement in this offseason wouldn’t be surprising, it is certain. Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, two legends at the peak height of their powers, retired around the same time as Donald. However they were left in football purgatory. Detroit LionsNot for Super Bowl titles. Peyton Manning and John Elway, for example, won Lombardi trophies, but they weren’t at their best football.

Donald could leave right now. As he has done so many times, he would be in a unique category, a player leaving at the top his game to join a championship team. It would be hard to leave.

Is it possible that Donald has put so much effort into the game that he’s achieved everything that a player his age can do? He is a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer and is starting to wonder about the future for his family. It’s only natural that he would start to wonder when he will call it a career after reaching the top of the NFL.

Donald was awarded the Defensive Rookie Of The Year award in eight NFL seasons. He also earned seven All-Pro honors in a row, eight Pro Bowl nominations, three NFL Defensive Player trophies, and was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Only Donald Taylor (and Lawrence Taylor) have been Defensive Roster of the year, NFL Defensive Player and of the Year several times, named All-Pro five-plus time and won a Super Bowl.

It suffices to say that Donald is the greatest at this.

Miller declared after the Super Bowl, “He’s done all you could possibly do.”

Rumours have circulated that Donald could be considering retiring to try and get the aforementioned raise. Donald is currently the fifth highest paid NFL defensive player (around $22million) and others could be in line to surpass him in the coming offseason.

Donald may be using the threat of his retirement to gain leverage, but it seems silly. Donald is already the best and most respected defensive player in football. He just won the Super Bowl. These players don’t need to retire, or should they?

Donald declared after the Super Bowl, “I set myself high goals and expectations. But I’ve exceeded everything I ever imagined.” “I was certain that I wanted to be an All-Pro, a Pro Bowler. But to say that I had some individual success would make it seem impossible for me to be here now, with the success I have enjoyed in the very short time I have been in this league.

Donald Trump will not retire before the Super Bowl if he does what many are expecting and returns to work under a revised contract worth many million more.

He will get it for the same reason he has earned every award, trophy and championship while playing football.