LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams aren’t ruling out the possibility of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement, and head coach Sean McVay says the decision rests entirely with the former superstar defensive tackle if he chooses to suit up again and play with Myles Garrett.
Talk about Donald potentially ending his two-season retirement heated up right after the Rams completed their major trade on Monday, bringing Garrett over from the Cleveland Browns. The 35-year-old Donald stepped away from football in March 2024 following an outstanding decade-long career entirely with the Rams organization.
During Garrett’s introduction to the media on Tuesday, McVay addressed questions about Donald but offered no definitive answer about whether the retired star would return to action — though he didn’t dismiss the speculation either.
“Aaron is a guy that I stay really close in touch with, and I know the respect that he has for Myles,” McVay said. “Talked to him about the opportunity to be able to bring (Garrett) on board. If Aaron decides he wants to dust them off at the age of 35, I bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip.”
ESPN personality Pat McAfee fueled comeback rumors on Tuesday, revealing he had exchanged messages with Donald about a possible return. According to McAfee, Donald indicated that Garrett’s move to LA “for sure got me thinking,” adding that he’s “gotta see if that fire can light back up.”
Throughout his 10 seasons in St. Louis and Los Angeles, Donald earned eight All-Pro honors, 10 Pro Bowl appearances, three AP Defensive Player of the Year titles, and a Super Bowl championship. He concluded his career at the peak of his abilities, setting a franchise record with 111 sacks while establishing himself as the league’s premier interior pass rusher before deciding he was prepared to move away from the demanding routine needed to compete at that elite level.
Since Donald retired at what’s considered a relatively early age for defensive linemen, discussions about his potential comeback have persisted throughout his two years away from the game in Los Angeles, where the Pittsburgh-born player continues to live with his family. Rams supporters actively hoped for his return during last season as the team looked positioned for another Super Bowl attempt, but Donald remained unmoved by those appeals.
Donald even trained with Jared Verse, the first-round draft selection and emerging edge rusher who was sent to Cleveland as part of the package with three valuable draft picks. The Rams sacrificed significant assets to land Garrett, the two-time AP Defensive Player of the Year and one of the few players who matches Donald’s elite status in recent NFL history.
Garrett has expressed admiration for Donald’s abilities in the past, and the Rams’ newest star player listened approvingly on Tuesday as McVay spoke highly of Donald.
The Rams’ defensive front is already formidable, with Garrett now joining 12-sack edge rusher Byron Young and solid interior defenders Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Poona Ford. Garrett has already obtained his preferred No. 95 jersey from Ford, who had been wearing that number with the Rams last season.
“There was a conversation,” Garrett said with a laugh.
“A conversation and a couple of bucks?” McVay interjected.
“Maybe more than a couple of bucks,” Garrett said with a laugh. “He was open to it.”
