Cooper Kupp said he texted Aaron Donald to tell him he’s “not allowed” to unretire and return to the Rams, insisting he “nipped it in the bud” after talk of Donald coming back.
The idea of Aaron Donald returning to the Los Angeles Rams didn’t just float around league chatter—it reached his former teammate, and Cooper Kupp wasted no time shutting it down.
Kupp said he reached out directly to Donald after talk began about the possibility of him unretiring and coming back to play for the Rams. Speaking with Rich Eisen, Kupp joked that he had already made it clear to Donald that he should stay retired.
“I already texted him and told him he’s not allowed. So we’re good,” Kupp said. “I texted Aaron and said, ‘Don’t even think about it.’ I left it at that, so we’re good. I’m not worried about it. No one has to worry.”
Kupp’s message wasn’t just playful—he framed Donald’s potential return as something the Seahawks will be forced to plan for. and something he personally doesn’t want to see on the other side of the ball. He pointed to a Rams roster that already includes multiple Seahawks-facing challenges. and added that Donald joining that defensive picture would be a level of disruption he’d rather not imagine.
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I love Aaron. He’s such a good football player, great dude,” Kupp said. “I loved taking the field with him in L.A. I don’t know what’s going to happen. That would be crazy. He’s a very, very good football player. I don’t care how old he is, how long he’s not played, Aaron Donald is Aaron Donald. But it doesn’t matter because I told him he can’t.”.
Kupp also said he wants to keep at least one part of that rivalry clean: he has never played against Donald. He made it clear he’s determined to make sure that stays that way.
Kupp and Donald were teammates with the Rams from 2017 to 2023. With Donald’s retirement still intact, Kupp’s text—equal parts humor and insistence—was his way of ending the conversation before it turns into something more.
Cooper Kupp Aaron Donald Rams Seahawks retirement unretire NFL
So Kupp basically threatened him with a text? NFL friendships are wild.
I mean if Donald wants to come back, he’s gonna. Texts don’t stop contracts lol. Also why are they acting like the Seahawks are the only ones worried?
Wait did Kupp say he “nipped it in the bud” like literally? Cuz that sounds like he thinks Donald is gonna pop back like a plant. And didn’t Kupp play defense sometimes too? idk
Kupp is acting like it’s the Seahawks problem but it’s still the same dude terrorizing whoever. I saw a headline that Donald might return to LA like it’s already decided. If he does, Seahawks fans are gonna lose their minds. But also I don’t get why Kupp wouldn’t just say “hope he stays retired” instead of the whole not allowed thing, sounds kinda cheesy.