​Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald has dominated NFL off-season chatter, with rumors swirling about a sensational return to the Los Angeles Rams just two years after he retired as one of the sport’s all-time greats at his position. The chatter intensified after the Rams acquired reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, a move many view as the catalyst that could lure Donald out of retirement.
In a recent article, NFL insider J.L. Canfora insisted that Donald’s comeback is imminent and that the defensive tackle is intent on rejoining Garrett on the field next season. “What began as speculation and then grew into highly informed buzz is now seen as nearly a done deal, with Donald eager to play alongside Myles Garrett, whom the Rams added this off-season, and telling more people within the Rams organization just how strongly he wants to end his retirement,” Canfora wrote. “There is no firm timetable for him to make a formal decision or to report to the Rams, and the team will keep that option open for as long as he desires. But there’s a growing sense among some in the Rams organization and around the league that Donald will be back for a big portion of the 2026 season.”
Garrett’s résumé underscores the potential impact of a Donald-Garrett pairing. Garrett has earned five first-team All-Pro selections and seven Pro Bowl nods, along with two NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards, cementing him as one of the premier edge defenders in league history. A duo featuring Garrett and Donald would likely be one of the most formidable fronts in NFL history, terrifying opposing offenses and redefining what a ferocious pass rush looks like.
The speculation gained additional steam during recent episodes of “Pro Football Talk,” where analyst Mike Florio predicted Donald would return to the Rams and propel them into Super Bowl contention next season. “It feels like this is going to happen, or Donald is pulling a head fake or an eye fake, depending on how you interpret it,” Florio remarked. “Let’s monitor this, because the Rams are already the favorite to win the NFC and the Super Bowl. If Donald comes back, that raises the bar as high as it’s been for any team I can remember in a very long time.”
Donald’s career before retirement was marked by extraordinary accomplishment. He earned 10 Pro Bowl selections and eight first-team All-Pro honors, along with three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards—a mark he shares with legends Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt. A return would not only be a personal milestone for Donald but would also reshape the Rams’ defense and the broader competitive landscape of the league.
As the 2026 season approaches, the football world watches closely to see whether this headline-grabbing storyline will culminate in a formal comeback. If Donald does lace up for the Rams again, the combination with Garrett could redefine the standard for defensive excellence and once again place Los Angeles at the epicenter of Super Bowl conversations.