Aaron Donald: "Do I feel like I can still be myself? 100 percent"

Aaron Donald officially ended his two-season retirement on Sunday, returning to the Rams on a one-year deal for 2026.

He even participated in practice on his first day, going through individual drills with his fellow D-linemen before heading to the locker room.

While the world found out Donald’s plans on Sunday, he told reporters after practice that he’d known he was coming back for some time.

“I know the world was saying all types of different things and nobody knew what was going on. But I kind of knew for two weeks,” Donald said in his press conference. “And then I talked to Sean [McVay] every single week. Damn near every day. So, we stayed in contact, I’d give him all my updates, how I was feeling, how things were going. So, I know he got annoyed with asking all the questions in camp every damn day, so I felt bad for him at that point. But I was doing everything I needed to do to give myself the peace of mind to see if I could do it. So there wasn’t any rushing.

“Just wanted to take my time to make the right decision, because once you choose to come back, you’re all the way back in. Can’t be halfway in, you’ve got to be all the way in it. So, had to get to that point where I felt like I would feel like I’m 100 percent committed to playing football again — because the last two years have been amazing. Building things I’ve been building, working on what I’ve been working on. Kind of working from home and jumping back in the fire playing football again. So, really had to sit back, think about it — not just from a physical aspect, but from a mental aspect as well. Everything just played out how it played out and we’re back here now.”

Donald said he felt like the Rams were already a complete team without him. But based on some of the team made throughout the offseason, Donald started to get that itch to play again. He seemed particularly intrigued by the thought of playing with reigning defensive player of the year Myles Garrett.

“[Y]ou bring a guy in like Myles Garrett, a generational talent, and it’s like,” Donald paused and smiled before continuing, “that can be fun, right? And, obviously, what they did on the backend with bringing certain pieces they needed in the secondary, man. And I think this is a complete team with me here or without me here. So, for me to even have the opportunity to be a part of this, be with this team, I take nothing for granted.

“It’s a blessing to be retired from the game for two years and have the opportunity to come back and be a part of something special. Nothing’s promised, nothing’s guaranteed. But I’m willing to try to get to that ultimate goal, what it is, day by day, week by week, and just stack those days.”

Donald’s work ethic and his workouts are famous for being strenuous. He said he’s been seriously training to get back into football shape for about 13 to 14 weeks and now feels like he can be himself on the field.

“To be honest with you, I’ve kind of been in the football mindset the last 14 weeks, grinding,” Donald said. “If anything, it’s getting back on the grass and knocking the rust off as far as playing football again — 11-on-11, working my eyes, getting a feel for the game, certain reaction things that made me who I am. So, I put myself in the best position the best way I can by training to get to where I’m at now. And the only thing I can do now is play 11-on-11 and knock the rust off, get going, get caught up with the speed of the game, and the rest is the rest.

“But do I feel like I can play at a high level? Yes. Do I feel like I can still be myself? 100 percent. If I didn’t feel like that, I wouldn’t be here. So, from everything I did, from training with just conditioning to the football transition and doing football drills and things of that nature — I recorded everything, I studied myself to a T, watched every movement, every cut, every hip flip. In my opinion, I don’t see a difference. If not, it looks a little cleaner to me. Two years, your body feels a little different. But still got to go out there, play 11-on-11, get myself going, and get myself where I need to be as far as playing football again.”

So will Donald be on the field in Australia when the Rams play the 49ers in Week 1? That’s still — at least publicly — to be determined. But at this point, it would almost seem like an upset if Donald weren’t available to play to start the season.

“I’m here to just go day by day, work,” Donald said. “I’m not here to be given nothing. I earn any position that I’m in. Whatever that is, whatever my role is, I’m going to earn it.

“So, day by day, just work, grind, get myself to where I need to be, at the level that I want to play at. And that’s all I can do.”