Aaron Donald ends his 2 1/2-year retirement and returns to the Los Angeles Rams

Aaron Donald has rejoined the Los Angeles Rams, concluding his 2 1/2-year retirement to again stand alongside Myles Garrett on the team's defensive line. The decision came after weeks of deliberation, preparation, and rigorous workouts as the 35-year-old defensive lineman returned to his former team. Following his agreement to a one-year contract, ESPN reported that Donald will earn at least $20 million in an incentive-laden deal.

Donald, a standout defensive player throughout his entire 10-season tenure with the Rams in both St. Louis and Los Angeles, earned three AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards alongside 10 Pro Bowl selections, eight All-Pro recognitions, and a Super Bowl ring prior to his retirement in March 2024. After spending two years enjoying retirement with his family, Donald began contemplating a comeback this summer, sparked by the Rams' trade for Garrett, one of Donald's few peers in modern defensive line play.

Both Donald and Garrett have combined to secure five of the AP's past nine Defensive Player of the Year awards, including two of the last three for Garrett with the Cleveland Browns. Donald underwent nearly two months of physical preparation at the Rams' training facility before making his highly anticipated return. Coach Sean McVay expressed confidence in Donald's decision weeks prior, and the decision process spanned the entire preseason, ultimately leading to Donald's announcement just before the Rams gear up for their season opener against the 49ers in Australia next month.

With MVP Matthew Stafford leading the NFL's top-ranked offense, Los Angeles has been the favorite in most sportsbooks to claim its second Super Bowl title under McVay, even before Donald's return.