An old foe has returned to attempt to dethrone the Seattle Seahawks. After weeks of speculation, the news is official: former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is coming out of retirement. Donald is returning to his former team to help them close the gap and get over the hump Seattle proved to be last season.
This news was reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Donald is re-joining a Rams defensive line that now features the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett.
BREAKING: Aaron Donald tells me he’s coming out of retirement and returning to play for the #Rams. Donald, in part, tells me: “I’ve been working the last 12-13 weeks to train my body and get it to a point where I felt like I could still play the game at
a high level and be… pic.twitter.com/eJu19Bbvv6
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 30, 2026
This news hardly comes as a surprise. It has been speculated all summer long, especially after the Rams acquired Garrett in a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns. ESPN’s Adam Schefter even said he felt it was “more likely than not” he would un-retire.
Personally, I am unfazed by the news. Aaron Donald was a fabulous player in his prime who terrorized the Seahawks for years. In 18 career games against Seattle, Donald recorded 41 solo tackles and 15.5 sacks. He was even responsible for breaking Russell Wilson's finger in 2021, causing him to miss three games which helped to derail Seattle's season.
But life moves on quickly in the NFL. Donald hasn’t sent foot on a field since the conclusion of the 2023 season and he is now 35 years old. Yes, I’m sure he’s still in peak physical shape. However, there is a distinct difference between being in shape versus “football shape.” Granted, the Rams won’t need him to carry the defensive line, and would be another option for their depth. Still, I have my doubts if he will be back to the monstrous force he once was.
Los Angeles will host Super Bowl LXI, and the last time they did the Rams ended up winning a Lombardi on their home turf. The Rams’ window of contention is closing rapidly and this may be their final shot. Of course, their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks stand in their way.
The Rams have been the “trendy” pick to win it all, as everyone seems to have forgotten who actually won the Super Bowl last season. Donald’s return will surely contribute more fuel to this particularly annoying fire.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: NFC West News: Rams DT Aaron Donald un-retires, returns to Los Angeles
