How Aaron Donald's Rams comeback at age 35 would work as NFL unretirement rumors heat up

How Aaron Donald’s Rams comeback at age 35 would work as NFL unretirement rumors heat up originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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After acquiring Myles Garrett in a blockbuster trade, Los Angeles Rams now have the reigning a Super Bowl-winning head coach, the reigning NFL MVP and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. That might not be all.

As soon as the Rams swung a deal for Garrett, fans started wondering whether future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald would come out of retirement to join a team with Super Bowl expectations.

Donald retired after the 2023 season after considering an even earlier retirement two years prior, and he hasn’t given any indication he plans to return to the field — until now. Donald appears to still be in shape, which means money might be the only obstacle toward a return if he decides he wants to give it another shot.

Here’s a look at the validity of Donald’s unretirement rumors and how the Rams could make it work.

MORE:How Myles Garrett trade return compares to Micah Parsons deal, more

Is Aaron Donald coming back?

Donald told both Pat McAfee and Jordan Schultz on Tuesday that he’s at least considering an NFL comeback.

“I’m for sure flirting with the idea. Helluva an opportunity with the Super Bowl in SoFi this year. If I can find the fire, it’s a possibility,” he told Schultz.

Coach Sean McVay told reporters he would be open to the idea of Donald returning.

“Listen, if he’s interested,” McVay said. “Here’s what I’ll say: You talk to Aaron, and you see what he’s saying about that.”

McVay added that he has spoken to Donald about the Garrett acquisition.

“If Aaron decides he wants to dust ’em off at the age of 35, I bet you he can still do it at a pretty high clip.”

Rams GM Les Snead told “The Pat McAfee Show” that he believes Donald is considering a return for the first time since he stepped away in 2024. 

“I do think for the first time Aaron is like, ‘Oh, wait a minute,'” Snead said, adding that he still isn’t sure what will happen because Donald always wanted to be the best player on the field as long as he played.

McVay and the Rams have taken a player out of retirement before, as they signed safety Eric Weddle ahead of the playoffs at the end of the 2021 season despite him being two years removed from last game. Weddle played in all four playoff games and started two as the Rams won the Super Bowl. 

MORE:Grading the Myles Garrett trade for Rams, Browns

Aaron Donald Rams comeback rumors

Donald openly said he considered retirement after winning the Super Bowl despite being at the top of his game, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when he retired after 10 seasons despite still being a highly impactful player.

There was no doubt at the time that Donald could play for multiple years, at least, if he wanted to continue his career. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is known to keep himself in exquisite shape, and he was only 32 when he announced his retirement.

After reaching the NFC championship game in 2025 and bringing nearly their full core back while adding Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson to the defense, the Rams look like the team best positioned to win a Super Bowl. Many of Donald’s teammates from his playing days remain on the roster, and his coach is still in place. Those could be the stars that needed to align for Donald to make a comeback after two years away.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on June 9 that Donald is “more likely than not” to return, though he added that no one has definitively said Donald will be back.

How old is Aaron Donald?

Donald is 35 years old. He just turned 35 in May, so 2026 would be his age-35 season.

When did Aaron Donald retire?

Donald announced his retirement in March 2024, calling it a career after 10 seasons. It was an early retirement for Donald, who was 32 at the time, but it wasn’t much of a surprise because he had floated the idea for about two years. 

Donald was still playing at a high level at the time of his retirement. While an injury-derailed 2022 season broke his streak of seven consecutive First-Team All-Pro seasons, Donald earned his eighth selection in 2023 and had eight sacks along with 23 quarterback hits across 16 games. 

MORE:Why did Aaron Donald retire?

Does Aaron Donald have a ring?

Donald won Super Bowl 56 with the Rams at the end of the 2021 season, famously pointing to his ring finger after pressuring Joe Burrow on the final play of the game. After falling short in Super Bowl 53, the championship marked the pinnacle of Donald’s career and nearly the end of it. He considered an early retirement after only eight seasons, but a new contract in the spring brought Donald back to the Rams for two more seasons.

Aaron Donald contract details

Donald’s three-year, $95 million deal with the Rams would have expired after the 2025 season, but according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the franchise still retains his rights because he was placed on the reserve/retired list.

The Donald situation could play out similarly to that of Rob Gronkowski, whose deal with the Patriots lasted through 2019 but extended to 2020 after he spent the 2019 season the reserve/retired list before opting for a return with the Buccaneers.

The reserve/retired list effectively paused Donald’s contract, so he would be in line to make his 2024 salary of $30 million in that case. Of course, he and the Rams can restructure that arrangement if Donald does decide to return. 

Here’s how a Donald return could fit into the Rams’ salary cap situation.

MORE:Winners and losers from Myles Garrett trade

Rams salary cap with Aaron Donald

The Rams have $16.4 million in cap space to work with, according to Over The Cap. Young standouts such as Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner and Byron Young still playing out their rookie contracts helps ease the burden, even after acquiring Myles Garrett.

L.A. would need to get creative if Donald returns, given he would be in line to make $30 million, but one would have to imagine the future Hall of Famer would be understanding about the Rams’ cap constraints.

Rams depth chart with Aaron Donald

Here’s what the Rams’ defense could look like with Donald back in the mix:

Position1st team2nd teamDLBraden FiskeLarrell MurchisonDLAaron DonaldPoona FordDLKobie TurnerTy HamiltonOLBMyles GarrettJosaiah StewartOLBByron YoungDesjuan JohnsonILBNate LandmanGrant StuardILBOmar SpeightsShaun DolacCBTrent McDuffieQuentin LakeCBJaylen WatsonEmmanuel ForbesSKamren CurlJaylen McColloughSKamren KinchensTanner Ingle

Poona Ford is the most expendable projected starter on the Rams’ defensive line, though Braden Fiske might be the most comparable style of player to Donald, which would give the Rams the tough decision of putting one of the two in a reserve role. 

Fiske was drafted to be the direct Donald replacement in 2024 and has had some pass-rush success, but Kobie Turner’s presence has made the Rams transition away from Donald with ease. Turner has 24 sacks across three seasons in L.A., notching at least seven sacks in each of his three seasons.