Aaron Donald’s potential unretirement seems to be at a fever-pitch, but Donald joining the Los Angeles Rams does not guarantee a Super Bowl victory. The Rams have had Donald on their roster before, and L.A. lost plenty of games. That’s not a knock on Donald, but it is indicative of football being a team sport over an individual one.
Last year, the Rams had the best quarterback in the NFL (the best player at the most important position), and the Rams fell short. Is Matthew Stafford going to repeat
his MVP season? Are the Rams going to improve upon last year by reaching the Super Bowl?
L.A.’s move for Myles Garrett is perhaps the clearest indication this team is going for a Super Bowl victory in 2026, and as favored as the move may make the Rams to win it all, this team isn’t unbeatable. They weren’t unbeatable before the trade for Garrett, they are not unbeatable after the trade, and they will still not be unbeatable if Donald comes back to the Rams for one last ride.
A slow start to the season, a loss to the Seattle Seahawks late in the season, an injury, a player underperforming, ect. So many factors need to go right for the Rams to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2027. #99 unretiring likely isn’t as big on L.A.‘s list in terms of what they need to go right when compared to Stafford staying healthy, the offense keeping pace, the defense delivering on their potential and the special teams being a strength on the team as opposed to a burden.
Yes, the possible unretirement of AD will continue to get plenty of attention as a significant factor for L.A, but it’s likely not the biggest box the Rams need to check.
Whatever decision Donald and the Rams make is a story to follow, but it’s not the story that will determine the winner of the Super Bowl. That story is yet to be written.
