Aaron Donald announced his retirement from the National Football League earlier this March. The former first-round pick led an illustrious career with the Rams, both in St. Louis and then in Los Angeles. Donald arguably became the best interior defensive lineman ever, leaving the NFL with three Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Donald’s dominance was unparalleled, so when people invoke his name or invoke his name in the future, it’s saying something. In some cases, it could be a tall order, but Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris thinks highly of his defense’s biggest prize.
Grady Jarrett joined the Falcons a year after Donald joined the Rams. The Falcons drafted Jarrett out of Clemson in the 2015 NFL Draft with a fifth-round pick. Since then, he’s been one of the best defensive linemen in the league. He was instrumental in the Falcons’ playoff run of 2016 and, for a better part of the game, was one of the best players on the field in Super Bowl LI before things came crashing down for Atlanta. Jarrett’s proved his worth and then some over the years, and Morris thinks he’s also earned a lot more respect.
On Up & Adams, host Kay Adams discussed Morris’ thoughts on Jarrett, who he said has an “Aaron Donald-like” presence on the team.
Is Grady Jarrett the most UNHERALDED defensive player in the league??#Falcons HC Raheem Morris saying he has a ‘Aaron Donald-like’ presence has us thinking so 👀🔊@GradyJarrett @AtlantaFalcons @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/9QQDYYuzvr
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 4, 2024
“His presence is huge. It’s really Aaron Donald-like,” Morris said, saying he and Donald discussed this when he was on the Rams coaching staff. “That presence is really special when you have that.”
Adams noted Jarrett’s three sacks against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. The comparison made her wonder if he was the most unheralded player in the NFL. Perhaps he is.
