Aaron Donald, one of the greatest defensive players of all-time,is coming out of retirement for one more Super Bowl push with the Los Angeles Rams this season. The 10-time Pro Bowler, eight-time first-team All-Pro and three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year announced his long-awaited decision with a highlight montage on his Instagram account set to "Homecoming" by Kanye West. The final shot shows Donald hugging the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LVI in February 2022 with the words "THE RETURN" in bolded caps across the frame.
The Rams' version of the announcement was much simpler, and perhaps even more fitting.
In a callback to one of Michael Jordan's most iconic moments, the Rams posted a letter addressed to NFL commissioner
Roger Goodell and signed by Donald:
"Dear Commissioner Goodell,
I'm back."
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 30, 2026
On March 18, 1995, Jordan ended his 17-month-long first retirement via press release from his agent, David Falk, with those same two words. The next night, he played for the Chicago Bulls wearing No. 45 in Indianapolis. Jordan eventually switched back to No. 23 and went on to lead the Bulls to a second three-peat before retiring again following his sixth NBA championship in 1998.
Similarly, the Rams are all-in on running it back with Donald with the Super Bowl once again returning to SoFi Stadium, their home stadium where they also won the Big Game four years ago. With a defense that features Donald, Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, they might just do exactly that.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'I'm back': Aaron Donald statement calls back to iconic Michael Jordan announcement
