‘Who’s this 99 guy on the Rams?’ Urban Meyer, meet Aaron Donald

Aaron Donald is fairly good.

Chances are high you’ve heard of him.

Three-time NFL defensive participant of the 12 months.

Eight-time Professional Bowler in eight NFL seasons.

Even earlier than the Rams defensive lineman grew to become a Tremendous Bowl champion final month, anybody who even remotely follows the NFL would have recognized his identify.

Besides possibly City Meyer.

In accordance with an in-depth take a look at Meyer’s disastrous stint as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars by the Athletic’s Jayson Jenks and Mike Sando, the previous school soccer teaching nice claimed to have spent six months extensively researching the NFL earlier than touchdown his first teaching gig within the league in January 2021.

However he was someway unfamiliar with Donald, who weeks later could be named the defensive participant of the 12 months for the just-completed 2020 season … as he had in 2018. And 2017.

“Who’s this 99 man on the Rams? I’m listening to he could be an issue for us,” Meyer stated final season, in response to one among Jenks and Sando’s sources.

Donald went on to register one sack, two quarterback hits and 5 tackles, together with one solo, in the course of the Rams’ 37-7 win over Jacksonville on Dec. 5.

The article mentions that “a number of sources stated Meyer was unfamiliar with star gamers across the league” and lists San 49ers large receiver Deebo Samuel and Seattle Seahawks security Jamal Adams as additional examples.

After all, Meyer had a lot greater issues in Jacksonville, that are illustrated in nice element by Jenks and Sando. He was fired in December, after solely 13 video games and two wins.

“Probably the most poisonous atmosphere I’ve ever been part of,” a veteran member of the soccer operations employees informed the Athletic. “By far. Not even shut.”