Aaron Donald hasn't played since 2023, and, after recently turning 35, has taken up golf, so everything about his life suggests that life is good and he's not coming out of retirement to resume his 10-year NFL career.Or is he?Nah.
His wife, Erica Donald, had heard the rumors and mostly dismissed them as "hilarious" on Tuesday.So the idea that the Los Angeles Rams — setting themselves up for a Super Bowl run after they just traded for All-World pass rusher Myles Garrett, after adding a star starting cornerback duo, after getting the word from MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford that he's playing in 2026 — would be unbeatable with Donald coming back is crazy talk.Right?Riiiiiight?!?!Wrong.NFL GREAT AARON DONALD MAY COME OUT OF RETIREMENT TO JOIN MYLES GARRETT ON RAMS' DEFENSE, EX-TEAMMATE SAYSLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn., on Sept.14, 2025.
(John Amis/AP Photo)Because no one — not Rams coach Sean McVay, and not Donald — is dismissing the notion.Indeed, both are kind of feeding the idea."Listen, if he's interested, here’s what I’ll say," McVay told reporters Tuesday afternoon at the Garrett introduction news conference.
"You talk to Aaron, and you see what he’s saying about that."'Looking for the part where McVay said it's out of the question...Looking...Still looking.Nope, don't find it."Here’s what I would tell you guys overall, too," McVay added, "Aaron is a guy that I stay really close in touch with, and I know the respect that he has for Myles."Talked to him about the opportunity to bring [Garrett] on board.
If Aaron decides he wants to dust ‘em off at the age of 35, I bet you he can still do it at a pretty high clip."RAMS ADDING MYLES GARRETT AS PART OF BLOCKBUSTER TRADE AND SUPER BOWL PUSH FOR 2026 SEASONLos Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald plays against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., ...