The Los Angeles Rams are putting all of their chips on the table for the 2026 NFL season. After Matthew Stafford won the MVP award last season and they made it to the NFC Championship Game, the team ultimately fell short of winning the Super Bowl.
But head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead are putting together a superstar-laden squad to make that final push. However, if the rumor mill is anything to go by, they could soon be re-adding one of the greatest players in franchise history – Aaron Donald.
Aaron Donald Must Make the Decision Himself
Bringing in Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs and Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns to shore up the defense, it is hard to find a realistic flaw on the Rams’ roster. Their offense already ranked at number one on PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric last season, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
Add the defensive impact their two new additions could make, and they have the perfect roster for contention. However, ever since the Garrett trade became official, the noise has been getting louder for Donald to come back for a final hurrah.
A 10-year career with the organization saw him rack up three Defensive Player of the Year trophies, be named to the Pro Bowl every year of his career, and make the crucial game-ending play on Joe Burrow to cement a victory in Super Bowl 56.
But just two seasons after that iconic moment, Donald chose to move on from football, retiring as one of the greatest defenders ever. Still just 35, though, the possibility of a comeback isn’t that far-fetched when looking at it from an age standpoint.
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ESPN’s Sarah Barshop got an exclusive insight directly from the head coach about the process of Donald’s return. Taking to X, she revealed, “Sean McVay said Aaron Donald is going through a ‘very strict’ process to decide if he wants to play.”
Penning down his comments, Barshop added, “‘But if that is something that he wants to do, we are going to try to be able to make that happen,’ McVay said. ‘But I genuinely do not have an answer on whether he is or isn’t.'”
It seems like the decision is ultimately going to come down to Donald and his willingness to suit up once again. The Rams seem more than happy to bring him aboard if he chooses to go that way, but McVay also made it clear that they aren’t going to pressure him into that decision.
“I know he’s preparing himself to be able to make that decision,” McVay said. “And if he feels good, then you guys know he’s going to be ready to rock. But if not, he’s earned the right. He doesn’t owe us anything. And he’s a special person.”
It remains to be seen whether what once seemed like a pipe dream becomes reality in the very near future. But Los Angeles is primed for a deep playoff run and potentially adding a second Super Bowl in the 2020s to their trophy collection with or without his presence.
