Aaron Donald, one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history, is making a shock comeback.
After more than two years in retirement, Donald has decided to return to the NFL. He will rejoin the Los Angeles Rams ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and NFL fan Luca Salmasi looks at Donald’s surprise return.
Going back home
Donald is returning to the team that drafted him in 2014.
The Rams selected him with the 13th overall pick in that year’s NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the league’s most dominant defensive players.
Donald earned 10 Pro Bowl selections during his career. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award three times.
The defensive tackle earned eight first-team All-Pro selections. He also helped the Rams win the Super Bowl at the end of the 2021 season.
Donald retired in March 2024 at the age of 32.
Now, he will return to a Rams roster that already has plenty of talent.
Matthew Stafford remains at quarterback. Meanwhile, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett will line up alongside Donald on the defensive line.
The Rams also enter the season among the teams expected to challenge for the Super Bowl.
McVay’s master plan
Ever since rumours began circulating about the Rams signing Garrett, Donald’s return has been a topic of discussion.
Under head coach Sean McVay, Donald subsequently returned to the practice facility to undergo a strict, regimented process to assess whether he could still play in the NFL.
And after nearly three months of intensive workouts, he finally made the decision to return.
If Donald can echo the form he showed in his prime, he has a chance to form one of the most formidable defensive line duos the NFL has seen in quite some time, which will wreak havoc on rivals, especially in the NFC West.
High expectations await
After two years of retirement, Donald still looks in the same incredible shape he was in during the main stages of his playing career.
But can his legacy be replicated in whatever time he has in the upcoming season or should he have stayed at home?
Donald’s build is considered small for a defensive tackle, but in his initial spell with the Rams, he made up for his lack of size with extraordinary athleticism and an impressive work rate.
Indeed, his NFL stats showcased that dominance as he set a franchise record for the Rams with 111 sacks and 542 total tackles during his first spell, including 337 solo tackles.
Whilst it isn’t clear whether he will travel to Melbourne for the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, Donald is clearly eager to complete a comeback that he believed impossible just three months ago.
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