Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter believes it is more likely than not that star defensive tackle Aaron Donald comes out of retirement and plays for the Los Angeles Rams at some point this season.
NFL Insider Believes Aaron Donald Comeback is Likely
The Rams have had the NFL world on fire the past week after pulling off a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett. Immediately after the news, speculation and jokes began that Aaron Donald could unretire and return to play alongside Garrett. After what started as a joke about Donald returning to football after his 2023 retirement, the idea began to gain traction when members of the Rams organization publicly discussed the possibility.
NFL insider, Schefter, was asked about the possibility of Donald returning and said that if the Rams and Donald can work out a plan for him this season, it is likely Donald will return for another year with the Rams.
“When you talk to all the people involved, no one is coming out and saying Aaron Donald is coming back,” Schefter said. “Everybody is acknowledging that it’s a possibility, and the fact that this is a possibility in June tells me this will become more real in July. I think if and when they (Rams) present a plan to him on how he will be used, I think it’s more likely than not that he will be back.”
Schefter continued to caution that things were far from a done deal that Donald would come back. However, he mentioned that the Rams are the current Super Bowl favorites, have Myles Garrett, and that the Super Bowl will be played in LA this year; it all makes enough sense to Donald to want to return.
Breaking down the chances of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to return to the Los Angeles Rams.
Cc: @tyschmit
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— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 9, 2026
Donald has been adamant since retiring after the 2023 season that he has no urge to play football when asked publicly. The Rams organization had checked in with him here and there with the hope that he’d join the team for a playoff run, but Donald remained retired. After the Garrett news broke, Donald mentioned the possibility of coming back to play alongside Garrett.
Sean McVay and the Rams Organization Keeping the Door Open For Donald
At the Garrett introductory press conference, McVay and General Manager Les Snead were asked about possibly welcoming Donald back, and McVay had this to say.
“Aaron’s a guy that I stay really close in touch with, and I know the respect he has for Myles,” McVay told the LA media. “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 he could still do it at a pretty high clip.”
Garrett also said himself in the same press conference that he has plans to speak with Donald as well, in hopes of getting him to return.
Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett Would Be An All-Time Defensive Duo
Both Donald and Garrett have won multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, and each has accumulated over 100 career sacks. Donald already has a Super Bowl ring and could help Garrett get one as well. Garrett knows it’s all about the Super Bowl ring for him, having accomplished everything else in his career individually, except postseason success.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
