Football 101: No. 11, Aaron Donald

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We’ll have a new Football 101 essay every week throughout the NFL season, leading right up to Super Bowl Sunday. And if you want to track the countdown, Brilliant Reader Ed B put together this awesome spreadsheet.

Since Aaron Donald entered the league in 2014, here are the NFL leaders in sacks:

1. Aaron Donald, 103

2. Chandler Jones, 94.5

3. Cam Jordan, 91

4. Von Miller, 88.5

5. Justin Houston, 84.5

OK. Hold on to that for a minute. Since Aaron Donald entered the league in 2014, here are the leaders in tackles for loss:

1. Aaron Donald, 160

2. Cam Jordan, 123

3. Khalil Mack, 113

4. J.J. Watt, 112

5. Von Miller, 108

Should we look at quarterback hits? Sure, why not, let’s look at quarterback hits, too, since 2014:

1. Aaron Donald, 237

2. J.J. Watt, 200

3. Carlos Dunlap, 189

4. Von Miller, 181

5. Cam Jordan, 176

OK, this should paint a pretty clear picture.

Except it doesn’t. Because look at those lists again. Look at the people he’s up against — Watt, Mack, Jones, Jordan. You know what’s different about them?