How Aaron Donald changed Jared Verse's entire career trajectory overnight

One of the aspects of the retirement of All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald that carries some disappointment in 2024 and now in 2025 lies in the young, passionate players not having the chance to compete with the Great One. Yes, Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young benefited from a year playing alongside Donald. But in 2024, the Rams have added DROY outside linebacker Jared Verse and runner-up DROY Braden Fiske.

And in 2025, the team signed veteran nose tackle Poona Ford, and drafted versatile defensive lineman Ty Hamilton. They could benefit from playing alongside Donald, too.

While he never played alongside Donald, second-year outside linebacker Jared Verse has been shown the path to NFL elitism by none other than the Rams G.O.A.T. himself, Aaron Donald. After a whimsical exchange of Verse trolling Donald over retirement and workouts, Donald invited Verse to work out with him at his home gym.

It was an experience that changed Jared Verse's entire NFL career trajectory.

Aaron Donald pulled back the curtain hiding NFL elitism

Some NFL players are blessed with a genetic advantage. Height, muscle mass, speed, endurance, and even flexibility can all be given a genetic advantage. And from there, the player can embrace the passion for football, taking his workouts seriously, shaping and honing his body with disciplined workouts to ensure he is prepared to play his best on the football field.

But for an elite player like Aaron Donald, it's not enough to be at his best. He enters each new day trying to improve himself over his best from the day before. And all the while, he tries to reach a breaking point to achieve the best and most grueling parts of his workout regimen.

He loves to work his hardest when he is dead tired, pushing himself with game scenarios with the game on the line and the team needing him to make a play. And then, he goes out and delivers on the football field. Throughout their workout together, Aaron Donald pushed Jared Verse. And the result was clear. Aaron Donald single-handedly altered the trajectory of Verse's NFL career, forever.

Verse knows what it will take to remain elite in the NFL

Jared Verse had an incredible rookie season. He was honored with the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He has established a reputation to be feared by even the most accomplished NFL offensive linemen. And he is fast-tracking to become one of the NFL's rising stars. But success has a way of eroding the passion and hunger that drives an NFL elite player.

Aaron Donald simply humbled Verse, humiliating him in such a way that he will never forget the lesson learned on that day. It was not to shame Verse. It was to ensure that Verse, the lightning rod of the Rams defense, stays humble and hungry.

You can hear Jared Verse describe that experience in his own words in the embedded video below:

Don't think for a second that deflating Jared Verse will stunt his production in 2025. Quite the opposite. Verse loves the game, and to extend that passion, he needs someone to plant both of his feet on the ground. Despite no longer playing for the Rams, Aaron Donald took it upon himself to do that.

Comparisons between any defensive Rams stat and Aaron Donald are inevitable. But as Jared Verse tasted his first appetizer of success in professional football, Aaron Donald pulled back the curtain and revealed the real mechanisms to achieve elite status in the NFL. In short, he showed Verse not to try to be better than the opponent. Try to be better than he was just one day ago. And in that humbling moment, he caught his attention. The message was delivered.

All that remains is to sit back and see how Jared Verse handles the new information. As always, thanks for reading.

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