Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald finished his sixth professional season with 48 total tackles (20 for loss) and a team-high 12.5 sacks on his way to earning All-NFL and All-NFC honors from the Professional Football Writers of America and and First Team All-Pro recognition from the Associated Press.
Here are his top five plays from the 2019 season.
5) Sack-fumble vs. 49ers, Week 6
One of two games with two sacks for Donald this season, the former University of Pittsburgh standout got to San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and knocked the ball from his grasp. Linebacker Cory Littleton's ensuing fumble recovery and lateral to cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman to set up the Rams at the 49ers 36. It was Donald's third sack of the season and first since Week 3 against the Browns.
4) Sack vs. Browns, Week 3
Donald's first of the season was a key stop in a thrilling 20-13 road win over the Browns. With 6:29 left, Donald took down Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield for a seven-yard loss on 1st and 10 from the Browns' own 10-yard line. The Browns couldn't recover from the negative play early in the series and were forced to punt on 4th and 18 from their own 2. The sack made Donald the fastest Rams player to 60 in franchise history.
3) Safety vs. Steelers, Week 10
Playing back in his hometown for the first time in his NFL career, Donald authored one of his best performances of the season before family and friends – including the play mentioned above. Lined up over Steelers right guard David DeCastro, he beat DeCastro one-on-one for a sack of Rudolph and safety in the Steelers' own endzone. Donald also added six total tackles to his stat line, second-most in a single game this past season behind his seven against the 49ers in Week 6.
2) Sack-fumble vs. Falcons, Week 7
Another play which saw Donald climb up the franchise's all-time list. Donald's sack of Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan on 3rd and 10 from the Falcons' own 28 and subsequent fumble recovery helped set up a 20-yard field goal by kicker Greg Zuerlein for a 30-3 Rams lead. Of greater significance, though, was that it moved Donald in sole possession of third place on the Rams' career sacks list, giving him 63.5 for the season at that time.
1) Combining with Fowler for sack vs. 49ers, Week 16
Teaming up with outside linebacker Dante Fowler to take down Garoppolo in Week 16, that half of a sack for Donald was his last one of the season. Overall he finished with 1.5 in Week 6 to give him 72 for his career. Donald's next sack will move him past outside linebacker Kevin Greene (72.5) for second place on the franchise's career sacks list.