Watching Aaron Donald win Super Bowl an emotional moment for ex-Penn Hills coach

Demond Gibson watched as Aaron Donald couldn’t contain his tears of joy as confetti swirled around the Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle amid the Super Bowl LVI championship celebration.

“I wanted this so bad,” Donald told NBC’s Michele Tafoya in a postgame interview. “I dreamed this, man. I dreamed this. And it’s … surreal. Look at this! I feel amazing. I feel amazing. I feel great.”

It was an emotional moment for Gibson, who was trying to hold back his own tears while cheering on his Penn Hills protege as Donald reached the pinnacle of professional football with a dominant defensive performance to lead the Rams to a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium in L.A.

“I think everybody who roots for Aaron was riding the emotion of that game,” Gibson said early Monday morning from his home near Orlando. “It was emotional to watch, to see him fulfill his dream. When he was talking, the emotions that he had we all had. To see him let a couple tears go, I was fighting back the tears, too. He dreamt of that moment. To be a small part of his journey is unbelievable.”

My man had me in tears right here. Congratulations superbowl champion @AaronDonald97 https://t.co/n1xEly8fkC

— Demond Gibson (@iballed94) February 14, 2022

Gibson preceded Donald as a Penn Hills star who played at Pitt, and later served as Donald’s defensive line coach for the Indians. Gibson pushed Donald to make up for his size with his strength and speed, developing into a technician whose combination of power and quickness makes him virtually unblockable, even against double teams.

Donald led a Rams defense that tied a Super Bowl record set by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X by sacking Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow seven times. Gibson was impressed with how Donald dominated the second half, especially the final minutes of the fourth quarter, to prevent a Cincinnati comeback.

“When his team needed him, he willed his team to win the Super Bowl,” Gibson said of Donald, a seven-time All-Pro and three-time NFL defensive player of the year. “He showed he’s the best player in the game. He made big play after big play.”

This moment between AD and his kids ❤️ pic.twitter.com/B3KMaXuSRi

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 14, 2022

Gibson believes Donald’s biggest play came early in the third quarter, when the Bengals were leading 20-13 and had a second-and-10 at the LA 31. Burrow rolled left to avoid pressure in the pocket and ran toward the sideline. Donald was in pursuit and pushed Burrow out of bounds for a 1-yard loss, only to be shoved by Bengals center Trey Hopkins and punched in the helmet by right tackle Isaiah Prince in a skirmish on the Cincinnati sideline.

“To tell the truth, the momentum changed when he was chasing that football, when he chased the quarterback down,” Gibson said. “I knew. I knew. I’m telling you the play of the game, when he chased Joe Burrow down the sidelines and pushed him out and their offensive linemen hit him. I said, ‘That’s the play that’s going to spark him.’ You can name any sport, and the greatest player makes the greatest plays.”

Aaron Donald. @NFL Champion.

???? @AaronDonald97 #H2P » #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/lWqmJWwon4

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) February 14, 2022

The 6-foot, 285-pound Donald, who had four tackles (three solo) and two sacks, cemented his legendary status when he disrupted the Bengals’ final play by whirling Burrow around and causing him to whip an incomplete pass on fourth-and-1 with 39 seconds left in the fourth quarter. It was almost a mirror image of the play Donald made to force San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garropolo to throw a game-clinching interception in the NFC championship.

“No disrespect to anyone, he’s my MVP,” Gibson said of Donald. “You know who was the most impactful player in that game. Selfishly, I think we’re all spoiled because he does that all the time.”

AARON. DONALD.

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/brcqv0hXVC

— ESPN (@espn) February 14, 2022

Gibson isn’t surprised by the rumors that Donald could consider retirement after eight NFL seasons now that he’s won the Super Bowl, given that it was the only thing missing from a Hall of Fame resume. Donald celebrated his game-clinching play by pulling off his helmet and pointing to his ring finger, signifying that he was ready to add jewelry.

“In this game, every player has to make their own decision,” Gibson said. “Usually, the game is done with you before you’re done with it. If it’s time for him to make that decision, we’ll support him. If he comes back, we’ll enjoy his greatness. Whatever he decides, I’ll support him 1,000%. My relationship with Aaron is not just Aaron the football guy but the person, too. If he decides to walk away, he’s the greatest ever. I don’t think there’s a discussion anymore.”