Aaron Donald has officially decided to end his two-year retirement and put the pads on again. The Los Angeles Rams legend is returning for the 2026 season, which will be his first time playing since 2023.
Donald, a 10-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer, retired after the 2023 season but got the itch to play again after the Rams traded for Myles Garrett in June. After contemplating this decision for a while, he’s chosen to get back on the field and chase another Super Bowl ring.
He'll play on a one-year deal worth $20 million, which can be worth up to $30 million with incentives.
Donald joins Garrett, Byron Young and a loaded defense for the Rams, which also includes newcomers Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Donald and Garrett are both multi-time
Defensive Player of the Year winners, making this the first time two such players have suited up as teammates.
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— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2026
He’s back: Rams star Aaron Donald is coming out of retirement and returning to the Rams on a one-year, $20M deal that with incentives could be worth up to $30M, per @rapsheet and me.
After two seasons away, Donald now will join forces with Myles Garrett, giving the… pic.twitter.com/LO2SoKHFwG
It took him some time to decide whether he wanted to play again, taking a couple of months to test his body and motivation leading up to the season. He ramped up his training regimen this summer, even going through an official workout with the team during camp.
At 35 years old, Donald is returning to the field to bolster what is already one of the strongest resumes in NFL history. He has 111 career sacks, 260 quarterback hits and 24 forced fumbles, making the Pro Bowl in all 10 seasons and earning three Defensive Player of the Year awards.
He and Garrett will be the first pair of teammates who have each won multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, with Garrett taking home the honor just last season when he broke the all-time record with 23 sacks.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Aaron Donald is coming out of retirement to play for the Rams
