Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald’s future has been the subject of intense speculation throughout the NFL offseason. Donald, who retired in 2024, has been linked with a return to action with the Los Angeles Rams after being spotted working out at the franchise’s training facilities.
Adam Schefter Breaks Down Aaron Donald’s Return Timeline
During an appearance on the “Get Up” show on Thursday, ESPN insider Adam Schefter revealed a detailed timeline for Donald’s potential return to the NFL.
“Here’s what people need to know about the Aaron Donald situation right now,” Schefter said. “It doesn’t sound like a decision is going to come certainly before training camp opens for the Rams, maybe not even anytime soon. And when I say anytime soon, it may be a couple of weeks.
“But I’m told that he is working his way back into football shape, that he essentially is not going to rush this. He’s not going to commit to coming back until he’s convinced he can do it, until he’s convinced he can be Aaron Donald, until he answers the questions in his mind.”
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After the Rams traded for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, Donald’s interest in a return to action with the team was piqued. The possibility of Garrett and Donald partnering up has whetted the appetite of Rams fans.
“It doesn’t sound like a decision is going to come certainly before training camp opens for the Rams.”@AdamSchefter with an update on what could be next for Aaron Donald 🏈 pic.twitter.com/KdPQP5ZpYB
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 23, 2026
Donald carved out a legendary career for himself in the NFL after being selected No. 13 overall by the Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft. Winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and earning a Pro Bowl nod in his first season in the NFL, Donald quickly established himself as one of the league’s most dominant defensive players.
According to PFN’s DT Impact Metric, Donald finished as the highest-rated defensive tackle in the league for seven seasons in a row from 2015 to 2021.
During an appearance on Wednesday’s segment of the “Daily Flock” podcast, Rams coach Sean McVay addressed the possibility of Donald rejoining the team.
“I have crossed paths with Aaron Donald,” McVay said. “What’s special is, we have a really special relationship. It’s way bigger than football. I’ve heard him say it before and it means the world to me and I feel the same, it’s family with us. He’s done so much for me. I love the man he is.
“I love the husband, the father, the son; he represents a lot of the things that are right. And what he’s going to do is, he is thinking about this. He’s going to go through his process. And the one thing about Aaron Donald is, what he does, he does it full speed ahead.”
In his illustrious NFL career, Donald earned 10 Pro Bowl nods, eight first-team All-Pro selections and currently holds the record for the most NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards alongside Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt.
