While it’s not exactly a shocker to see Aaron Donald make a big play, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay had a pretty unique way of knowing something good was about to happen at the end of Super Bowl LVI.
The Rams were facing a key 4th and 1 late in the fourth quarter as they tried to hold on to their 23-20 lead over Cincinnati. Donald blew past the Bengals offensive line on the ensuing play, hitting Joe Burrow and forcing an incompletion.
McVay told the media after Sunday’s game that he knew Donald was going to make a play as soon as he saw Burrow lined up in the shotgun.
When #Rams coach Sean McVay saw Bengals in the shotgun before that final fourth down play he said out loud Aaron Donald is gonna close the game out. Donald did. McVay just now: “Aaron Donald is the F’IN man.”
McVay was mic’d up so this should be verifiable soon.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) February 14, 2022
Sure enough, the NFL Films audio proves McVay wasn’t kidding.
Sean McVay said in his postgame press conference that as soon as the Bengals lined up in shotgun, he knew Aaron Donald was going to make a play. McVay was mic'd up as it unfolded.
"Aaron Donald's gonna make a play."
(via @NFLFilms)pic.twitter.com/DQWNwauXYz
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 14, 2022
Donald was extremely motivated Sunday, perhaps because of his reported career plans. Expecting him to make a play there is not a shocker. The fact that it was schemed out perfectly certainly helped, although the play may have been just seconds away from going in a totally different direction.
