In a showdown you likely never imagined seeing, Aaron Donald once again reminded us how much of a freak he is compared to us mere mortals and more impressively, how much bigger, stronger, and faster he is among NFL peers. In this case, it was at the expense of former NFL running back, LeSean McCoy.
Clearly the retired life hasn't peeled back any of the athletic prowess for Donald. The former Los Angeles Rams defensive standout was recorded in a one-on-one race parking lot race against the longtime Philadelphia Eagles running back.
Aaron Donald. LeSean McCoy. Mano y mano in a sprint.
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The unexpected battle was captured on video by DeSean Jackson, a former teammate of both McCoy and Donald and a known burner on the field during his heyday. The "competition" stretches out over two separate videos. There won't be any Oscar nominations for Jackson as his directing abilities clearly lack behind his prowess on the field. That being said, he does get some good narration in once the two ex-athletes take their shirts off and things get serious.
The videos themselves aren't the easiest to decipher. There are far too many "false starts" but from what we can gather, Donald definitely gets him in one of the races we see. McCoy also bested him in another, for what it's worth. Either way, through all of the stops and starts of this clunky competition, the point remains: no defensive lineman of that stature should move as quickly as an all-decade type of running back, let alone any skill position player of that size.
Aaron Donald, who won a Super Bowl in the 2021 season, announced his retirement in March following 10 seasons with the Rams. His Hall of Fame-bound resume includes three Defensive Player of the Year awards and 10 Pro Bowl nominations. For those counting, yes, that's an all star nod every single season he played. Donald, who also met his wife through the NFL, was only 32 years old at the age of retirement.
As for the man who just couldn't keep up with Donald, McCoy enjoyed himself an impressive football career. His honors include six Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pros, and a recent selection into the Eagles Hall of Fame. He also has two Super Bowl rings, one with the Kansas City Chiefs and another in his final season with Tampa Bay.
