​To come back or not to come back—that is the question. It’s the NFL offseason’s biggest unresolved issue, and only Aaron Donald truly knows the answer. Now 35, Donald previously retired at 32 after a dominant run with the St. Louis and later Los Angeles Rams. He made the retirement official on March 15, 2024, after previously flirting with the idea of walking away. The news surprised many at the time, but it followed a period when Donald’s enthusiasm for the game had waned and he felt he had completed a substantial checklist of goals. Yet that fire may have been rekindled by the Rams’ blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett. “The Myles Garrett trade for sure got me thinking,” Donald told The Pat McAfee Show on June 2, via text. “Gotta see if that fire can light back up.” With most of the NFL’s offseason moves likely already in the books, Donald’s return could be the final domino. But will it fall?
Here’s what to know about Donald and whether he plans to come out of retirement. Donald hasn’t publicly stated his intention to return, but signs have emerged that he may be considering it. The All-Pro defender was seen at the Rams’ facility, working out and running through drills on July 10, according to TMZ. Then, Garrett fed the speculation on July 12 by posting a Donald jersey on his Instagram story. All of this traces back to workout clips Donald has shared on social media. While posting such videos isn’t unusual for the former Defensive Player of the Year, the timing has people imagining how lethal he and Garrett could be together on the Rams’ defensive line.
Time is of the essence for Donald if he hopes to return. Rookies and veterans are slated to report to Rams training camp on July 25, with the preseason to follow shortly thereafter. Donald has explained that his decision to retire was driven by a waning passion for the game and a sense of completion after a decade in the league. “I’m complete. I’m full,” he told the Rams’ official site at the time. “I think the passion to play the game is no longer there for me. I will always love football, but to think about going through another camp and another 17-game season, I just don’t have the urge to push myself through that anymore. I’m burnt out. The best way to say it is I’m full, I’m complete. I’m satisfied with what I was able to do in 10 years. I think it’s time for me at 32 years old to retire from football and jump into the next step of my career, my life. Now it’s time to move on.”
Fortunately for Donald, this isn’t a one-way street. Everyone involved appears ready to welcome him back with open arms. Rams general manager Les Snead joined The Rich Eisen Show in late June, signaling a willingness to revisit the possibility of Donald’s return. As the offseason concludes and training camp approaches, all eyes will be on Donald to see whether the fire he once spoke of can be rekindled enough to lace up again and rejoin the Rams—or whether retirement will remain his path. In the coming days and weeks, the NFL will closely monitor Donald’s actions, latest comments, and any new signals that could confirm or deny a dramatic return to the field.