After the Rams landed Myles Garrett in a June 1 blockbuster trade, cornerback Jaylen Watson took to social media urging Aaron Donald to come out of retirement. Donald hasn’t responded publicly, and the longtime Rams star—who hasn’t played since 2023—has repeat
Los Angeles didn’t just reshape its defensive front on June 1—it also rekindled an old question in Rams circles: could Aaron Donald leave retirement?
The Rams acquired two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns in a blockbuster trade. sending Jared Verse and a package of draft picks in exchange. The move instantly pushed Los Angeles’ title hopes higher. but it also stirred something else: a teammate publicly calling on the franchise icon to rejoin the team.
Cornerback Jaylen Watson. who signed with the Rams as a free agent during the 2026 NFL offseason. posted to social media tagging Donald’s handle and asking him to come out of retirement. “Hit me big bro,” Watson wrote in an X post that tagged Donald’s account. Donald did not immediately respond, and it remains unclear whether he will.
Donald’s last NFL season was 2023. when he recorded eight sacks in 16 games and earned a spot on his eighth All-Pro first team. He has not played since then, but he hasn’t gone silent. Even in retirement, Donald has routinely shared workout videos on social media. Most recently. he posted a clip of one of his workouts to Instagram. captioned “#ready” with the song “ain’t done” by Blxst.
The trade and Watson’s message have created renewed speculation about whether Donald might reconsider. But Donald has also spent years laying out why he stepped away—and why, even with new circumstances, he may not feel tempted to return.
At age 35, Donald has frequently said he does not intend to return to the NFL. In a May 13 appearance on Cam Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast. Donald said he was happy to be retired and described himself as someone who “never wanted to play forever.” He compared his retirement timeline to Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders. saying. “I always said I was going to do eight years and be done. I just happened to win a Super Bowl my eighth year and I was like, ‘Man, this is destiny!’”.
Donald’s path wasn’t simple—he played two more years after Super Bowl 56 because he wanted another chance to win another championship. “You can’t just win a Super Bowl and walk away,” he said. “You want to experience that again.” But when the Rams were unable to reach that next championship. Donald described himself as comfortable walking away from the league.
He also addressed conversations with Rams coach Sean McVay. Donald said he has fielded calls from McVay in the past and that the pull to return wasn’t constant. “The first two years, they would talk about it,” Donald said, referencing his discussions. “But it kind of quiet down because he know where I’m at.”.
Taken together, the new momentum surrounding the Rams—starting with Garrett’s arrival—and Donald’s long-stated stance make the moment feel tense, even if it may not change the outcome. If Donald’s position doesn’t shift after the Garrett trade, he appears likely to remain retired.
For now, Los Angeles has its blockbuster defensive upgrade, and Watson has thrown the invitation out loud. Donald has not answered publicly. Unless his views change. the 35-year-old who has built a Hall of Fame case with 111 career sacks—plus three Defensive Player of the Year awards and a Super Bowl 56 win—may still be on track for Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2029.
Aaron Donald Myles Garrett trade Los Angeles Rams Cleveland Browns Jaylen Watson Sean McVay retirement NFL offseason Defensive Player of the Year Pro Football Hall of Fame 2029