The Los Angeles Rams have already pulled off the trade of the season with the Myles Garrett move. But the Rams are also currently involved in another big storyline that future Hall of Fame DT Aaron Donald might step out of retirement to join Garrett.
What Andrew Whitworth Said About Aaron Donald’s Potential Comeback
Rams legend Andrew Whitworth has now weighed in on the swirling rumors. In a conversation with PFSN, the former offensive tackle has sounded the alarm for other teams if the rumors come true.
“It’d be scary, I can tell you that. Aaron Donald is one of one, not just as a football player, but as a human,“ Whitworth said. “He is one of the rarest work ethic people that I’ve ever seen. I’ve just never seen many people with the talent that he has and the work ethic that’s even greater. It’s crazy.
“The human being he is and the devotion he had to being great was second to nobody. And so I think when you talk about AD, if there’s a realistic opportunity that he could be playing next year for them, it’d be really scary for a lot of teams, I know that much. And so I think, to me, it’s really, ‘Hey, listen, if it happens, it’ll be awesome.’”
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Over a dominant 10-year career, Donald established a resume that stacks up against any defensive player in NFL history. He is one of only three players in league history, alongside Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt, to be named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three separate times, taking home the hardware in 2017, 2018, and 2020.
He was a perfect 10-for-10 in Pro Bowl selections, making the roster every single year he played, and was selected as a First-Team All-Pro eight times. But the question remains, is there a spark left?
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Whitworth, who anchored the offensive line alongside Donald during the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI championship run, admitted that he has been doing some digging of his own. However, the legendary defensive tackle is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“I’ve talked to him, I’ve tried to gauge his interest, and he’s holding out on me. He doesn’t give me his percentage. I want a percentage! Just give me something to get excited about, AD!” Whitworth added.
Ultimately, Whitworth noted that a potential comeback wouldn’t be about a paycheck, but rather whether Donald’s heart was truly back in the grueling daily routine of the NFL. In addition, Whitworth explained that Donald takes immense pride in being a father and a husband, making the final decision much heavier than football.
Now, the NFL world waits to see if Donald’s heart is truly ready for another run.
