Why they rank here
The defining interior defender of the modern era, Aaron Donald did from defensive tackle what pass rushers usually do from the edge. Undersized for the position at around 6-foot-1, he used explosive quickness and elite hand technique to collapse pockets from the inside, finishing with 111 career sacks, an extraordinary total for an interior lineman. He was named Defensive Player of the Year three times, earned first-team All-Pro honors eight times, and made the Pro Bowl in all ten of his seasons before retiring in 2024. Donald capped his career by helping the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI, where his late pressure sealed the title. Offenses routinely double-teamed him and still failed to contain him, the surest sign of a truly dominant defender.
Career profile
Each bar shows how this athlete compares with the strongest in our all-time list for that metric.