A Pittsburgh legend has been included in ESPN’s list of greatest athletes.
Pitt Panthers legend Aaron Donald continues to receive accolades for his exceptional career, recently being recognized on ESPN’s list of top 100 professional athletes since 2000, where he ranked 20th.
Sarah Barshop, ESPN’s Los Angeles Rams reporter, highlighted Donald’s stellar achievements in franchise history and the NFL. She noted his accomplishments including Defensive Rookie of the Year, three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, and seven Pro Bowl selections early in his career.
Barshop also highlighted Donald’s pivotal role in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory during the 2021 season, where his pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on a crucial fourth down sealed the game. His iconic celebration, pointing to his left ring finger where his Super Bowl ring would eventually go, remains memorable.
Donald, the second highest-ranked NFL player on the list after Patrick Mahomes, also joins former Pitt football star Darrelle Revis, who ranked 96th.
A product of Penn Hills and a standout at Pitt from 2010-2013, Donald’s collegiate career was marked by impressive stats and accolades, including ACC Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American honors in 2013. He also earned several prestigious awards such as the Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronco Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy, and Lombardi Award.
In the NFL, Donald continued his dominance with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, earning Pro Bowl selections in all 10 seasons he played, three more NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, and inclusion in the NFL All-2010s Decade Team.
Over his decade-long NFL career from 2014 to 2023, Donald amassed impressive statistics including 543 tackles, 176 tackles for loss, 111.0 sacks, and numerous other defensive contributions, solidifying his legacy as one of the game’s most formidable defensive players.
