If you recognize the man above, then you know he’s probably a first ballot NFL Hall of Fame inductee in the very near future. Aaron Donald played defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams starting in 2014 and retiring in 2023. He is a one-time Super Bowl champion, and a ten-time NFL Pro Bowl nominee. He is one of only two defensive players to make the NFL Pro Bowl every season of his career with ten appearances!
Before the Rams, he was a “one man wrecking crew” for the University of Pittsburgh. As a Pitt Panther, he won multiple awards for being a “one man wrecking crew.”He was named the most decorated defensive player of the 2013 college season and as one of the most decorated players in Pitt history.
Source: Aaron Donald Player Profile
In 2022, I was ready to start coaching a high school 7v7 football team. Instead, I received a phone call from my trainer to assist and mentor a youth skills and development camp for Aaron Donald, a former NFL Defensive Tackle for the Los Angeles Rams. That is how I connected with him beyond our normal workouts.
I volunteered as a player’s coach for “AD99 Solutions,” a nonprofit in Pittsburgh founded by AD. Their mission is to change the trajectory of under-resourced youth by providing education and resources in supportive and safe environments. This is how they empower the youth.
Source: AD99 Solutions
Pittsburgh is known as the “City of Bridges.” Playing to the city’s nickname, AD99 Solutions aims to be the bridge, connecting underserved youth and communities to the resources and opportunities they lack. They display their mission above by doing one of the many things they do annually, hosting the “Living in the Pocket Skills Camp.”
The one day camp has a $75 fee that includes workouts and football fundamentals throughout the camp. Post camp, the public is welcomed to pictures and chatting with the future Hall of Famer himself Many other current and former college and pro players were also in attendance.
I coached the first half of the camp by properly instructing how to condition for the game of football. Leading the youth through ladder, cone, and basic coverage drills taught them how much more preparation the game requires than simply just going out there and playing games. The second half were friendly fun games amongst the different age groups.
Overall, the camp was a success with over 100 campers in attendance. But Aaron’s nonprofit is much more than sports. It helps the youth focus in other ways to be dominant off the field.
Prep Forward is a year round program responsible for training black athletes ages 13-18. It provides them resources to reach Post-secondary success through educationally valuable opportunities. Shawn Solomon Jr., current running back for the Duquesne Dukes, graduated from the Prep Forward Program.
“My experience as a prep forward student has been nothing but amazing.” Solomon, attended Brashear High School, a member of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Brashear, being a part of the “City League” school system, lacked financial support provide athletes top notch recruitment by Power Four colleges for sports, because of the lack of resources they have compared to WPIAL schools.
Aaron, like me, was also born in Pittsburgh. He is currently back and forth in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, connecting with friends, family and serving the communities affected by the wildfires.
In Pittsburgh, AD99 Solutions hosts year round programs like “Prep Forward” and “Community Engagement” to help our youth grow and thrive. Their non-profit really emphasizes three major ways to support by volunteering, mentoring and donating. I had the privilege of doing two of the three in the camp alone, and would love the opportunity to serving the community with him again.
Source: Living In The Pocket Skills Camp Recap
Jaeden Gordon 