LA Rams DT Aaron Donald named PFF’s Defensive Player of the Year

LA Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald named PFF’s Defensive Player of the year for 2019

The LA Rams may have some questions going forward into the 2020 NFL season, but there is no questioning who is their best defensive player. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald is one of the best football players in the game today, and certainly ranks among the best the game has ever seen. Today, Pro Football Focus announced their annual awards, a list of the NFL’s best players.

Not surprising to anyone, defensive tackle Aaron Donald earned the Defensive Player of the Year for 2019. It is the fourth time in his six year career he has earned the distinguished honor.

Donald has been one of the NFL’s best defensive players since he’s entered the league. That’s quite a feat, since virtually every offensive coordinator who plays the LA Rams knows they will face him, and game plans accordingly. Or rather, so they think.

Donald is a huge persona, a larger than life personality whose smile infects the room.  He is a force of excellence on the football field. But equally impressive, he is a force of excellence and decency off the football field as well.

This is not the first award earned for the Rams star defensive tackle. Earlier this month, he earned his fifth All-Pro designation in six NFL season.

The Pro Football Focus Defensive Player of the Year is particularly distinguished award for Aaron Donald, as the award covers all defensive players.  That means edge rushers, hole plugging linebackers, and shut down cornerbacks all are in the running.  For the award to go to a defensive tackle, a player who spend the entire football game in the trenches,he must be a very special football player.

He is.

What makes this designation so special for the player is his incredible work ethic. He is completely focused on not only how he can become a better player, but also a better teammate. He doesn’t seek the spotlight. Rather the spotlight seeks him out.

What makes this award so special for the team is that 2020 is a year full of questions. Who goes? Who stays? Will the team return to excellence?  Yet in spite of the questions, the Rams have this certainty.  Defensive tackle Aaron Donald continues to play at elite status.