Aaron Donald ends retirement, rejoins star-studded Rams
USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon breaks down Aaron Donald’s return to the Rams and why it makes Los Angeles the no-doubt Super Bowl favorite.
The Los Angeles Rams aren’t just adding Myles Garrett to their defensive line. They are also getting Aaron Donald back.
Donald is coming out of retirement to play for the Rams, he announced on Instagram. He will play the 2026 sesaon on a one-year, $20 million deal that could be worth as much as $30 million if certain incentives are reached.
Donald last played during the 2023 NFL season, when he racked up 53 tackles, eight sacks and three pass defenses while earning an All-Pro first team nod. The 35-year-old spent his entire 10-season NFL career with the Rams before initially calling it quits.
However, Donald began to show interest in a potential return during the 2026 offseason. He was seen working out at the Rams facility multiple times before eventually committing to return to the Rams.
Now, the 2014 first-round pick – who was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl 56-winning team – will try to win a second championship with the team. He will also look to build upon his 111 career sacks, which ranks third in franchise history behind Deacon Jones (159.5) and Jack Youngblood (151.5).
Here’s what to know about Donald’s return to the NFL.
Is Aaron Donald coming back?
Yes, Donald is unretiring and is preparing to play the 2026 NFL season for the Rams. The 35-year-old’s return was expected, as he had worked out for the Rams several times during the offseason before announcing his decision.
Donald did not immediately address what led to his decision to come out of retirement.
What Aaron Donald said before unretirement decision
Donald was asked about the possibility of unretiring in a text exchange with Pat McAfee that the NFL punter relayed to fans on his self-titled show on June 2.
“[The Myles Garrett trade] for sure got me thinking,” Donald said via text, per McAfee.
Still, Donald wouldn’t guarantee he would return to the field to chase another Super Bowl with the Rams.
“Gotta see if that fire can light back up,” Donald told McAfee in the conversation.
That text conversation was a marked departure from the veteran defensive tackle’s previous comments in which he frequently stated he did not plan to return to the NFL. He reiterated he was happily retired and described himself as “a guy that never wanted to play forever” in a May 13 appearance on Cam Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast.
“I always said I was going to do eight years and be done,” Donald said while comparing himself to Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders. “I just happened to win a Super Bowl my eighth year and I was like, ‘Man, this is destiny!'”
Donald decided he couldn’t retire after winning the Super Bowl. He wanted another chance to win a championship and opted to play two more seasons.
“You can’t just win a Super Bowl and walk away,” Donald explained. “You want to experience that again.”
The Rams were unable to win another Lombardi Trophy, so Donald decided to call it quits after his 10th season. The star defensive tackle acknowledged the Rams and Sean McVay continued to reach out to him and see if he might want to return, but he hadn’t yet been tempted to play again.
“The first two years, they would talk about it,” Donald said, referencing his discussions with McVay and the Rams. “But it kind of quiet down because he know where I’m at.”
But evidently, something changed in the wake of the Garrett trade. And now, Donald will take at least one more shot at winning a Super Bowl while postponing his inevitable enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton by at least a couple more years.
Aaron Donald stats
Donald appeared in 154 regular-season games across his 10 seasons with the Rams. He made the Pro Bowl ever season, was named to eight All-Pro first teams and won three Defensive Player of the Year awards across his legendary career.
Below is a look at Donald’s stats with the Rams:
- Games: 154
- Tackles: 543
- TFL: 176
- Sacks: 111
- Forced fumbles: 7
- Fumble recoveries: 24
- Pass defenses: 21
Donald also played in 11 postseason games with the Rams. He totaled 34 tackles, 10 TFL and six sacks across those contests. That included a two-sack performance in Los Angeles’ Super Bowl 56 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Donald agreed to terms on a new contract with the Rams upon returning to the NFL. He will make up to $30 million on his one-year deal, which carries a base value of $20 million.
Donald initially retired following the 2023 NFL season. His return to the NFL for the 2026 season means he will not be eligible for Hall of Fame enshrinement until the Class of 2032.
Donald is 35 years old. His birthday is in May, so he will remain 35 for the duration of the 2026 NFL season.