Aaron Donald is putting his body through a full NFL-caliber workout regimen as he weighs the possibility of coming out of retirement, but Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay says nothing has been decided yet.
McVay gave reporters an update Saturday as Rams players arrived for training camp. He described Donald’s current routine as intense and carefully structured — closely mirroring the training schedule he followed throughout his playing days.
The purpose of the program is to help the 35-year-old gauge whether his body can hold up to the physical grind of another professional football season after being away from the sport for two years.
McVay admitted he genuinely has no idea which way Donald will go, but added that the organization would welcome him back if the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year feels ready to compete again.
“If he feels good, then you guys know he’s going to be ready to rock,” McVay said.
Donald officially retired in March 2024 following a 10-season career spent entirely with the Rams. Over that time, he recorded 111 sacks, earned eight first-team All-Pro honors, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in every single season he played.
The retirement comeback conversation reportedly began when Los Angeles started exploring a trade for standout pass rusher Myles Garrett. McVay reached out to Donald to get his thoughts on Garrett, and the discussion eventually turned to whether Donald himself might want to suit up alongside him.
The Rams completed the Garrett trade in June, adding the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to their roster. If Donald were to return, the team’s defensive front would become one of the most feared in the league.
“But this is his decision,” McVay said. “He’s earned the right to be able to do it on his terms. And that’s why I think you guys are seeing us take this approach. But I did not ever really think this would be something, but I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m not excited about the possibility of it.”
Donald’s final season came in 2023, when he finished with eight sacks and 53 tackles while earning yet another first-team All-Pro nod.
McVay originally believed Donald was finished with football for good, noting that the defensive tackle had expressed a sense of fulfillment after walking away. But Donald’s thinking has shifted enough that he’s now willing to physically test himself again. McVay was clear, however, that if Donald ultimately decides to stay retired, that choice will be fully respected.
“He doesn’t owe us anything,” McVay said.
