Jalyen Watson – A Rams defender is already pushing the idea of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement after the team’s blockbuster Myles Garrett trade. Donald, who retired after the 2023 season, has said he’s done—but the new-look Rams are giving fans and teammates new reasons
The Rams didn’t just land Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade with the Browns. One of their own defenders is already trying to swing the pendulum again—toward Aaron Donald.
Jalyen Watson posted on X: “@AaronDonald97 hit me big bro. ” effectively recruiting the still-star defensive force for unretirement after the Myles Garrett trade. It’s a simple message, but the timing says everything. Donald retired after the 2023 season. and the Rams’ new defensive ceiling—powered by Garrett—has turned whispers into something more personal.
At 35 years old, Donald left the game after 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. The peak of his run was relentless: he made the Pro Bowl every single year he played. He also earned the AP All-Pro first team in all but two seasons. with those exceptions including his first year—when he was named the defensive rookie of the year.
So the question is unavoidable: would Aaron Donald come out of retirement?. The article’s own reality check points in another direction. It’s seen as very unlikely. The Rams would almost certainly welcome him back, especially given what Donald is still showing in public. His video on Instagram is cited as proof he’s still in top-notch shape.
But retirement isn’t just a calendar—it’s a promise. Donald has repeatedly said he’s done, including comments on Cam Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast, relayed via USA Today. Donald put it plainly while comparing his timeline to Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders.
“I always said I was going to do eight years and be done,” Donald said. “I just happened to win a Super Bowl my eighth year. And I was like, ‘Man, this is destiny!’”
He added: “You can’t just win a Super Bowl and walk away. You want to experience that again.”
Those words capture the tension that makes the Rams’ current excitement so complicated. The team is now positioned. with Garrett on the roster. to aim at the kind of defensive stretch that would tempt any elite competitor. But Donald’s own framing has been consistent—retirements are meant to be final. even if the urge to return never fully disappears.
For context on how hard the Rams have tried, Donald also described the conversations he had with head coach Sean McVay. “The first two years, they would talk about it,” Donald said, referencing discussions with McVay and the organization. “But it kind of quiet down because he know where I’m at.”
Those details matter now because the Garrett trade changes the pitch. The Rams getting Myles Garrett puts the team clearly at the top of the Super Bowl favorite heap. With Garrett in place, the defense is described as having a chance to be elite at all three levels. The offense is also expected to be among the league’s best.
And in the middle of all that—while fans watch the roster shift and players talk—Watson’s X post lands like a reminder that Donald’s influence still reaches beyond the field. Donald may have walked away after the 2023 season. but his shadow remains on the team. including his support of Matthew Stafford. Even if he never returns, the message is already out there: the Rams want the dynasty energy back.
One paragraph connects the moving pieces without making them bigger than they are: Donald is still physically ready by what fans see from his Instagram video. the Rams’ rise after acquiring Myles Garrett gives everyone a new reason to dream. and Donald’s own quotes still stress the end he chose—so the recruitment effort sits in the space between what the team wants and what Donald insists he’s done with.
Los Angeles Rams Aaron Donald Myles Garrett trade Jalyen Watson Sean McVay Matthew Stafford NFL rumors retirement Super Bowl favorite heap