Penn Hills native, former Pitt star Donald ready for star turn in Super Bowl

He’s arguably one of the most underappreciated talents Pittsburgh has ever seen.

From Penn Hills to Pitt to Los Angeles, defensive tackle Aaron Donald has done it all with two qualities: humility and hard work. That’s exactly why he embodies what Pittsburgh is all about, something the rest of the world will see this week when the Rams take on the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII  on Sunday.

“We knew he was a great player from day one,” said Chris LaSala, Pitt’s associate athletic director.

The skills are undeniable. The power, grace, the ferocity. He breaks through double-teams with ease. However, what truly separates Donald is his impeccable character, a staple since childhood.

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“He has a great family,” Penn Hills High School coach Ron Graham said. “(They) were instrumental in his character development and his work ethic. I was not surprised how he maintains to be humble and if anybody is watching a guy like Aaron, that’s the way you do it.”

Donald maintains a low profile off the field, but once he steps in between the lines, he’s in a class of his own.

“Nobody could block him,” LaSala said. “Nobody could block him the rest of his career at Penn Hills. Nobody could block him here for four years and nobody can block him in the NFL.”

Until the Chicago Bears traded for and signed Khalil Mack, Donald was the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, a reward for his tireless desire to be the best. He’s an unassuming Pittsburgher just one step away from the NFL’s ultimate prize, the Lombardi Trophy.

"I think the world of him. I think we all do at the University of Pittsburgh," LaSala said with a smile. "We all just want to see him be a Super Bowl champion, but I can almost guarantee that won't change him."

“It’s just one of those things,” Graham said. “Not many coaches experience possibly having a Super Bowl champion that they happened to be on the field with.”

They don’t make many like Aaron Donald. Hard working. Unassuming. Pittsburgh.

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