ATLANTA — What has been expected for months is finally official — defensive tackle Aaron Donald is the 2018 AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Donald recorded a season that could only be described as dominant in 2018, leading the league with 20.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, and 41 quarterback hits. His 20.5 sacks set a new single-season record for an interior lineman and a new single-season franchise record. The defensive tackle also set a new league record with 183.5 sacks yards on his quarterback takedowns. Plus, only five players had more forced fumbles than Donald’s four.
Donald is now the eighth player to win multiple AP Defensive Player of the Year awards, and only the third to win it in back-to-back seasons. Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor accomplished the feat in 1981 and 1982, and Texans defensive end J.J. Watt did it in 2014 and 2015.
Look back at Aaron Donald's 20.5 sacks of the 2018 regular season.
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (8) Kirt Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings during the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (9) Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions and causes a fumble during the Rams 30-16 victory over the Lions to win the NFC West in a Week 13 NFL football game, Sunday, December 3, 2018, in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with teammate (50) Samson Ebukam after a sack against the Minnesota Vikings during the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (8) Kirt Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings during the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks (3) Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 33-31 victory over the Seahawks in an NFL Week 5 football game at CenturyLink Field, Sunday, October 7, 2018, in Seattle, WA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (3) CJ Bethard of the San Francisco 49ers during the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in a Week 7 NFL football game, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (8) Kirt Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings and celebrates during the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (4) Case Keenum of the Denver Broncos during the Rams 23-20 victory over the Broncos in an NFL Week 6 football game, Sunday, October 14, 2018, in Denver, CO. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (4) Case Keenum of the Denver Broncos and celebrates during the Rams 23-20 victory over the Broncos in an NFL Week 6 football game, Sunday, October 14, 2018, in Denver, CO. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a sack against the San Francisco 49ers during the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in a Week 7 NFL football game, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers (90) and defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sack San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 (Hiro Ueno/Rams).
Defensive end (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback during the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in an NFL Week 07 football game at Levi’s Stadium, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Defensive end (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback during the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in an NFL Week 07 football game at Levi’s Stadium, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 (Hiro Ueno/Rams).
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (12) Aaron Rogers of the Green Bay Packers during the Rams 29-27 victory over the Packers in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during an NFL Football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Defensive end (99) Aaron Donald and Defensive lineman (90) Michael Brockers of the Los Angeles Rams celebrate a sack versus the San Francisco 49ers as the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in an NFL Week 07 football game at Levi’s Stadium, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (12) Aaron Rogers of the Green Bay Packers and celebrates during the Rams 29-27 victory over the Packers in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates a sack during an NFL Football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (9) Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions during the Rams 30-16 victory over the Lions to win the NFC West in a Week 13 NFL football game, Sunday, December 3, 2018, in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) and defensive end Aaron Donald (99) celebrate a sack during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) and nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates a sack during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
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While Donald did not attend the NFL Honors ceremony in Atlanta as he’s getting ready to play in Super Bowl LIII, he did say this week that winning the award would mean a good deal to him.
“Well, anytime you accomplish something you’re going to be happy, you’re going to be blessed,” Donald said. “So putting the body of work in and seeing it all pya off, it’s the type of stuff you dream about. But I’m just happy and blessed to be at the Super Bowl right now. But definitely a special year thus far.”
Additionally, as the league’s leader in sacks, Donald has won the Deacon Jones Award. Created in 2013, the Deacon Jones Award was made to permanently honor the legacy of one of the greatest players in league history. The Hall of Famer played 11 seasons as a Ram, becoming one of the famed “Fearsome Foursome” along with Rosey Grier, Lamar Lundy, and Merlin Olsen.
