Aaron Donald Is Reportedly Leaning Toward a Comeback Sean McVay Says Things Are Trending Up
Aaron Donald has not officially decided anything. But the tea leaves keep leaning one way.
Sean McVay said this week that Donald’s comeback situation “is going in the right direction.” NFL Network’s insiders have reported the general sense around the league is that Donald will return to the Rams. Donald himself has been hitting the gym hard and doing on-field work to see if his body is ready for another NFL season.
All signs, in other words, point to a return. It just has not been announced.
Donald retired in March 2024 as one of the greatest defensive tackles in NFL history. Three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Ten Pro Bowls. Eight first-team All-Pro selections. A Super Bowl ring. There was nothing left for him to prove. He walked away at 32 to spend time with his family and pursue other interests.
Then the Rams traded for Myles Garrett this offseason. That got Donald’s attention. Suddenly the idea of pairing back up with McVay and playing next to one of the most dominant edge rushers in football sounded a lot more interesting than it did a year ago. Donald mentioned as much on Pat McAfee’s show in June.
McVay has been careful with his language. He is not confirming anything. He is not promising anything. He knows Donald is going to make this decision when he makes it. But the head coach has also not exactly downplayed the possibility. When you say things are trending upward, you are basically confirming that the door is open.
For the Rams, having Donald back would be a game-changer. Their defensive line, already dangerous with Garrett, would become almost unblockable. Kobie Turner is a stud interior rusher. Add Donald back into that group and opposing offensive coordinators have nightmares to plan for. The Rams would immediately become one of the most talented defenses in the NFL.
The catch is that Donald has to be ready. He is 34 now. He has been away from the game for over a year. Football at his position is brutal on the body. Even elite players slow down after a layoff. Donald is not going to come back if he does not think he can still play at the level fans remember. That is not who he is.
The reporting suggests he is close to feeling ready. The on-field work has apparently gone well. The gym numbers are back to where he wants them. The one thing missing is the ceremonial announcement.
The Rams would likely welcome him back on a friendly contract structure that emphasizes performance bonuses. Donald has already made his money. This return would be about competitive fire and about finishing his career on his terms.
McVay would tailor Donald’s snap counts to keep him fresh. That is standard for any veteran defensive tackle these days. Nobody plays 90 percent of snaps anymore. Donald would rotate with Turner and others, get his eight to twelve high-quality snaps per game, and be a difference-maker in critical situations.
The clock is ticking. The Rams are already in training camp. Donald cannot wait forever. If he is coming back, it needs to happen soon so he can get real reps before the season opener.
Everything points to yes. Now everyone is just waiting for the announcement.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
