Aaron Donald spent the last decade wrecking offenses and collecting hardware. Retirement has not slowed him down either. The former Los Angeles Rams star still looks built for Sundays, even after walking away from football in March 2024.
A casual offseason sprint between NFL veterans suddenly grabbed the internet’s attention. One clip spread quickly across social media, leaving fans asking the same question: Could Donald still dominate in the league today?
Aaron Donald’s Viral Race With LeSean McCoy Turns Heads Again
Former Pittsburgh Panther and retired NFL defensive tackle Aaron Donald speaks at a press conference prior to the start of the Pittsburgh Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025.
Former Pittsburgh Panther and retired NFL defensive tackle Aaron Donald speaks at a press conference prior to the start of the Pittsburgh Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025.
Donald smoked former Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy in a foot race despite wearing jeans. The clip resurfaced again this week after NFL insider Dov Kleiman reposted it on X, reigniting debate around Donald’s rare athletic profile. McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowler, later won a rematch, but the original sprint became the viral moment.
Insane: The legendary Aaron Donald DESTROYED LeSean McCoy in a race.
Donald was wearing jeans and is 6-foot-1 284 pounds.
McCoy was wearing shorts and is 5-foot-11 207 pounds.
Donald would still be a Top 10 player in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/qc7543Zfhn
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 13, 2026
The reaction matched what fans saw on video. Donald exploded off the line and quickly separated from McCoy, who finished his NFL career with 11,102 rushing yards and two Super Bowl rings. The size difference made it even crazier. Donald checked in at around 284 pounds during his playing career, while McCoy played around 207 pounds.
None of this should shock NFL coaches. Donald built his reputation on freakish movement skills long before becoming a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. At the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, the Pittsburgh product ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash. That number still stands out for a defensive tackle. He followed that with 111 career sacks and a Super Bowl LVI title during a dominant run with the Rams.
Donald retired in March 2024 at just 33 years old, citing a lack of passion for continuing to play. Yet reports throughout the 2024 offseason suggested he remained heavily involved around the Rams. NFL.com reported in August 2024 that Donald attended Rams practices and worked closely with young defensive linemen. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula praised the future Hall of Famer for mentoring rookies and sharing technical details during drills.
That influence still stretches across the league. A May 2026 Yahoo Sports feature highlighted Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive tackle Landon Robinson modeling his game after Donald. Robinson reportedly studied Donald’s film obsessively while developing at the Navy.
Most retired stars fade from conversations once the pads come off. Donald keeps showing up anyway. Whether he’s mentoring players, dominating viral races, or inspiring the next wave of defensive tackles, the former Rams superstar still moves like someone capable of wrecking a game tomorrow.