Aaron Donald is one of the most decorated players in NFL history. A Super Bowl champion, 10-time Pro Bowler, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, he has cemented his legacy as a future Hall of Famer. In addition to his on-field dominance, Donald is renowned for his intense training regimen.
Even after his retirement from the NFL, Donald continues to uphold a rigorous workout routine that has inspired admiration — and fear — among younger players, including rising Rams star Jared Verse.
Verse Endures Donald’s Grueling Workout, Learns Legend’s Training Is No Easy Feat
Recently, Jared Verse attempted to train alongside Donald and quickly learned why the veteran is considered a workout legend. Verse recounted that after some basic stretching, he was thrown into a grueling cardio regimen that included stairclimbing, biking, lunges, and core exercises, each performed in four rounds.
That was only the beginning. The two then moved on to eight additional core workouts, setting the stage for what Donald ominously referred to as the “real workout.”
Jared Verse (NFL)The experience quickly shifted from inspiring to overwhelming for Verse, who joked that he was contemplating calling the police to escape the torture. His desperate attempts to leave, including a fabricated story about his mother being locked out, were denied by Donald, who arranged for someone else to handle the fictional emergency.
Verse admitted he was completely spent afterward, abandoning his plans to hit the sauna or study game film. The physical toll was so significant that he couldn’t work out for another day and a half.
Verse Embraces Donald’s Intensity, Fueling Rams’ Rise with Youthful Defensive Power
Despite the brutal session, Verse’s willingness to train with a legend like Donald speaks volumes about his ambition. Verse is already making waves in the NFL; he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, recording 66 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, and two forced fumbles.
His 77 quarterback pressures were the second-most ever recorded by a rookie since the stat began being tracked in 2017. If he adopts Donald’s training methods full-time, Verse may very well be on a Hall of Fame path himself.
Jared Verse is part of a young and formidable Rams defense that looks like a championship contender in 2025. Alongside teammates Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner, the Rams’ defensive core produced 226 pressures last season, the second-most by any group of four in the NFL.
All four players were drafted within the last two years, signaling a strong foundation for the team’s future. If Donald’s workout influence takes hold, especially on players like Verse, the Rams’ defense could be dominant for years to come.
