Aaron Donald announced Sunday on Instagram that he is returning to the Rams, pushing back his Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibility and joining a team aiming for a Super Bowl title at SoFi Stadium. Donald, 35, had retired two years ago, which would have made him eligible for Canton in 2029. His return means the Hall of Fame will have to wait until at least 2031.
The news was not entirely out of left field. Donald is known as a "fitness maniac" and has consistently posted his weightlifting sessions to social media. He was recently seen working out with Rams defensive line coach Giff Smith and trainers during training camp at Loyola Marymount, and a video posted to social media showed him hitting a blocking sled at UCLA. He also worked out at the Rams’ facility at least twice recently.
Speculation about his return grew in June when the Rams acquired Myles Garrett, a two-time defensive player of the year, via trade. The idea of forming a formidable pass-rushing duo quickly began to circulate. When asked about Donald’s potential return at Garrett’s introductory news conference, coach Sean McVay did not rule it out. McVay noted he was in contact with Donald almost daily, hinting that “if there’s an arrow, it’s trending upwards.” Garrett and other players publicly welcomed a return, but did not attempt to sway Donald's decision.
Donald's return adds to a legacy already among the league’s greats. He’s a three-time NFL defensive player of the year in 2017, 2018, and 2020, and has accumulated 111 sacks, making him a dominant interior defensive lineman. His career-best was 20½ sacks in 2018. He’s also been durable, missing only six games in his 10 seasons due to an ankle injury during the 2022 season.
He joins a revamped Rams defense. Following their loss to Seattle in last season’s NFC championship game, the team made significant moves. They traded for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and signed cornerback Jaylen Watson, both of whom won two Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. The acquisition of Garrett involved trading away star edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, and future second- and third-round picks to the Browns. The defensive front now features Donald, Garrett, along with linemen Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, and edge rusher Byron Young.
Donald is the second player to come out of retirement and play for the Rams under McVay. In January 2022, with several safeties injured, the Rams signed All-Pro safety Eric Weddle to the practice squad. Weddle eventually played extensively in the Super Bowl, even calling defensive signals, and helped clinch a title. Donald now seeks his second Super Bowl championship, having sealed the first by pressuring Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in Super Bowl LVI.
