Former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald revealed on Cam Heyward 's Not Just Football podcast that he was nearly drafted by the Steelers in the 2014 NFL Draft.
The Steelers wanted Donald to be an edge rusher for them, however.
"You see a lot of these mock drafts and you're nervous. I might go to Chicago . I might go to Dallas . There's a chance I go to the Pittsburgh Steelers . They asked me if I wanted to play linebacker at the time," Donald told Heyward. "I'm like, 'I'll play wherever y'all want me to play.' They wanted me to be a stand-up guy. Arizona , the Steelers had me on the board doing linebacker, like just running through the stuff. Wanted me to kind of run from a two-point stance. I never did it, but hey, I work hard enough I'll get used to it."
Donald ended up going to the Rams at 13th overall, two picks before the Steelers were on the clock. The Steelers selected Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier at No. 15. What could've been if Donald was still available at No. 15. Imagine Donald and Heyward on the Steelers' defensive line together?
Donald, who played at Penn Hills, starred at Pitt, earning the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013. That success carried over to the NFL when he won NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Year in 2014. Donald continued to rack up accolades, winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Donald, Lawrence Taylor, and J.J. Watt are the only three-time winners of the award in NFL history.
Donald retired in March of 2024 after a decorated 10-year career that included eight first-team All-Pros, 10 Pro Bowls, a Super Bowl championship, three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 23: Los Angeles Rams Defensive Lineman Aaron Donald (99) watches the action on the field during the NFC Divisional game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 23, 2022 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)
Coming out of high school, coaches thought Donald was undersized, and he only had only three scholarship offers — Toledo, Akron and Pitt. Donald always carried a chip on his shoulder because people doubted him over his size.
"Just seeing that growing up coming out of high school, I'm only (6-foot-1) and you ain't the biggest guy. 'You 260, you think you can get to 300 pounds?' Hell no, I can't get to 300 pounds. I don't want to be 300 pounds," Donald said on The Pivot podcast in July of 2024. "… I was good, I was the same player that I am now that I was in high school. I was making the same plays, I had two interceptions, I had touchdowns. I felt like I was good."
Donald's next step is Canton. He's a shoo-in as a first-ballot selection for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2029.
"I'm complete, I'm full. I think the passion to play the game is no longer there for me," Donald said when he retired in March of 2024. "I will always love football, but to think about going through another camp and another 17 [game] season, I just don't got the urge to want to push myself to do that no more. I'm just, I'm burnt out, if anything, the best way to say it is that I'm full, I'm complete. I'm satisfied with what I was able to do in 10 years, and I think it's time for me to, at 32 years old, retire from football and jump into the next step in my career, my life, and now it's time to move on."
Donald finished his career 0-3 against the Steelers, with losses coming in 2015, 2019 and 2023. The 2019 game was the only time in his NFL career that he played in Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Aaron Donald Unveils He Nearly Became a Steeler
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