Aug. 30, 2026, 10:43 p.m. ET
After weeks of mulling a comeback, Aaron Donald made his return to the Los Angeles Rams official on Sunday.
Donald might need introduced his NFL comeback on Sunday, Aug. 30, however the defensive sort out revealed to reporters that he knew he wished to return to the gridiron about two weeks in the past following a lot hypothesis.
“It was on and off for some time, however I believe we knew this determination about two weeks in the past. I type of knew for 2 weeks,” Donald instructed reporters after his first observe since popping out of retirement. “I talked to Sean (McVay) each single week, rattling close to daily. We stayed involved. I might give him all my updates, how I used to be feeling, how issues had been going.”
Donald agreed to phrases on a one-year, $20 million take care of playoff incentives that may increase the general worth to $30 million, an individual conversant in the scenario instructed USA TODAY Sports activities. The particular person spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they aren’t approved to debate the deal.
Donald, who initially retired on March 15, 2024 after 10 NFL seasons, admitted it wasn’t a straightforward determination to return following a two-year retirement. However the Rams’ blockbuster offseason, highlighted by the acquisitions of two-time defensive participant of the 12 months defensive finish Myles Garrett and two-time All-Professional cornerback Trent McDuffie, helped lure the 35-year-old star out of retirement.
“Seeing what’s being accomplished with this group, items that was getting introduced right here. Like ‘Okay, it is a full group.’ After which you already know you see different strikes they make, and it is like, ‘Okay, I want I used to be nonetheless on the market enjoying proper about now,’” Donald mentioned. “And you already know, beginning to put myself able to coach and get my physique to a sure level the place I felt good, and see how I transfer, and see if I nonetheless can do sure issues. I felt fairly good by means of my coaching for about 13, 14 weeks of simply nonstop grinding and get to the place we’re at proper now.”
In line with BetMGM, the Rams are the prohibitive favourite to win Tremendous Bowl 61. Garrett is the reigning defensive participant of the 12 months, and the Rams already boast final 12 months’s MVP in quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams are the primary group in NFL historical past to have a reigning MVP at QB and the defending defensive participant of the 12 months on the identical group.
Donald is one in every of simply three gamers in NFL historical past to win NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr thrice (2017, 2018 and 2020). He was additionally the recipient of the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Yr award in 2014.
Donald and Garrett now kind what seems to be essentially the most formidable line of defense within the NFL. The 2 have a mixed 5 NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr awards.
“You usher in a man like Myles Garrett, a generational expertise, and it’s like that may be enjoyable, proper? Clearly, what they did on the again finish with sure items they want on the secondary. I believe it is a full group with me right here, with out me right here. So, for me to even have the chance to be a part of this group, I take nothing as a right,” Donald mentioned. “It’s a blessing to be retired from the sport for 2 years and have the chance to return again and be part of one thing particular.”
Donald returns with 543 tackles, 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss, 790 pressures and 24 pressured fumbles already on his profession regular-season resume. He ranks first amongst lively gamers in pressures (790), second in tackles for loss (176) and seventh in sacks (111) regardless of lacking the previous two seasons.
The query now’s whether or not or not Donald can return to his elite kind after a two-year hiatus? The defensive sort out is assured the reply is sure.
“Do I really feel like I can play at a excessive stage? Sure. Do I really feel like I can nonetheless be myself? 100%. If I didn’t really feel like that I wouldn’t be right here. From all the pieces I did from coaching, conditioning, to the soccer transition and doing soccer drills and issues in that nature. I recorded all the pieces I studied myself to a T,” Donald mentioned. “For my part, I don’t see no distinction. If not, it regarded a bit cleaner to me.”
Observe USA TODAY Sports activities’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
