The sport of football has favored many staples historically.
Strong ownership influence over player mobility.
Coaching staffs where Caucasians dominate.
And teams that are built primarily through the quarterback.
However, small strides have been made in recent years as the league evolves.
Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers took stands against their organizations that ended up with the team either catering to the player, or the player taking their talents elsewhere, winning on their own despite their past alignment.
Since Brian Flores had his infamous lawsuit against the NFL for loosely abiding by the Rooney Rule, two black coaches, Lovie Smith, and Michael McDaniel were each hired by NFL teams, Houston Texans and the Miami Dolphins respectively.
And while the skill positions in the NFL have a healthy serving of superstars’ on and off the field, the one thing where the effects don’t show is in the payroll. Stars such as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen have each notched multi-year deals worth well over $30 million annually, commonplace for young quarterbacks.
However, despite the status quo honoring the All-Pro QBs, hard work has seemed to pay off, breaking another barrier.
Off the heels of a Super Bowl win and the heroic defensive display, the Los Angeles Rams and Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald agree to a contract restructure sees a $40 million raise to his original contract. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year will get paid $95 million in totality in his contract that runs through the 2024 season, making $30 annually.
Donald becomes the 1st non-quarterback in history to accomplish that feat, joining fellow stars such as his teammate Matthew Stafford.
From his workout routines to his stout defense to now his contract, the veteran is trailblazing in ways that like the other strides, may shape the league in the near future.
