You’ve got to be careful not to bite off more than you can chew, which is a lesson Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse learned the hard way after testing team legend Aaron Donald recently.
During an interview with ESPN’s Adam Schefter earlier this week, Verse called out Donald for his “old man workouts” and “little Instagram videos,” claiming the three-time Defensive Player of the Year moves only light weight.
“No, he don’t want that. He’s not ready for that,” Verse said. “That little 500 bench he had. He’s not ready for that. I’ll be moving weight.”
Donald got wind of Verse’s comments and promptly called his bluff.
After Jared Verse challenged Aaron Donald to work out with him (“he’s not ready for that”), Donald responds by inviting him over to his home to put him through “the old man retirement workout.”
😂💀
(Via AD’s IG story) pic.twitter.com/J7gfV9lFol
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) June 4, 2025
“I’m looking for you, Verse,” Donald said. “Come to the house. I just want to talk, that’s it. Just a little conversation. A little weights, do a little cardio, the old man retirement workout. Put you through it, see what you can do.”
Never one to back down, Verse accepted the challenge but was quickly humbled.
The two met up at Donald’s home on Friday and when all was said and done, Verse was left sweating on a bench as the “old man” playfully mocked him while continuing the workout.
https://twitter.com/StuJRams/status/1931118641270964403
Verse could do little more than tip his cap to the legend.
https://twitter.com/JaredVerse1/status/1931107864489423065
The 24-year-old Verse, who was a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned Pro Bowl honors in his first season. He’s looking to make a Donald-like impact in Year 2 and now knows from firsthand experience what that will take.