Donald’s last game in the NFL came during the 2023 NFL playoffs. The unstoppable defensive lineman hung up his cleats after the Detroit Lions eliminated the Rams in the NFC Wild Card Round on Jan. 14, 2024. Donald finished the game with three total tackles (one solo) and no sacks.

That was Detroit’s first postseason win in 32 years and Donald’s final NFL game. Two years later, however, Donald (35) could be back in the league, and the Rams could be seeking revenge in ways that once seemed impossible.

Rams couldn’t keep Donald’s practice under wraps

It’s unclear whether the Rams intended to announce it or not, but even if the team hoped to keep Donald’s workout a secret, a report explains why they couldn’t—and why they had to inform the NFL about their star guest taking part in practice.

“Aaron Donald wanted to do a workout in a football helmet, and even though he did not wear pads during it, he used Rams’ team equipment at their facility during training camp, requiring them to report his activity to the NFL,” Adam Schefter reported.

The news getting out may not be the worst thing in the world for the Rams, though. Los Angeles is undoubtedly sending a message with Donald’s workout, as it could form a dream duo—or a nightmare, depending on which side of the line of scrimmage one is standing on—that no offensive line may have an answer for.

Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald could join forces

It sounds ridiculous even writing it. Still, it’s shaping up to be a real possibility. Trading for Myles Garrett had already placed this Rams defense among the best in the NFL. If Donald indeed returns to Los Angeles, then the defense (coordinated by Chris Shula) could earn a place among the best in league history.

Only days ago, Garrett issued a warning to the rest of the NFL: “If [Donald] is here, I’m going to be excited to be his partner in crime, and I think we can do great things together.” Talk about manifesting. It appears Donald may indeed be on his way back to the organization he spent his entire NFL career with, chasing another Super Bowl after winning one, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, 10 Pro Bowls, and eight first-team All-Pro selections.

Still, Donald’s legacy and his career may be too great to settle for only one Super Bowl ring, and if he is returning to the NFL, it would be to chase more silverware.

“[Not going to lie] I haven’t played a quarterback who throw that peel like [Matthew Stafford],“ Watson wrote on his X account. Having spent the first four years of his NFL career with Mahomes and the Chiefs, Watson’s statement raised eyebrows.

It didn’t take long for Chiefs fans to find their former defensive back’s post, and the replies were filled with comments criticizing Watson and defending Mahomes. Needless to say, Mahomes himself made no comment, showing the animosity exists only between Watson and the fanbase—and is confined to social media.

Fans reply to Watson’s post

“Disrespect my glorious king Patrick Mahomes again. We are going to see how long you would be playing,” an upset, yet sarcastic fan stated. “There’s a guy who’s played in five super bowls, won three of them, who would like a word,” another user replied to Watson’s post. “Yeah, what QB got you the rings? You can be happy on a new team, but to be disrespectful for how you got where you are is just lame,” another fan said.

Clearly, the fanbase in the City of Fountains didn’t take Watson’s comment lightly. No Mahomes slander will be tolerated on their watch—even if there wasn’t any to begin with. Watson mentioned Stafford as the best thrower he has “played,” against, which could mean Mahomes wasn’t even under consideration since Watson never faced him outside of practice. However, Watson has never played Stafford, either. Stafford didn’t play the lone time Watson faced the Rams in 2022.

Unless he was counting his head-to-head matchups with Mahomes during Chiefs practices, Watson’s comments shouldn’t be controversial whatsoever. Still, if he still believes Stafford is a better pure thrower than Mahomes, there’s nothing wrong with that, either. He’s entitled to his opinion, and it doesn’t take anything away from the success he had while sharing a team with Mahomes.

Rams and Chiefs will meet soon

All this drama makes fans wish there were an immediate way to settle the debate over who the better quarterback is. So close, yet so far. The Chiefs and Rams will meet in a preseason game on Aug. 15.

However, neither Mahomes nor Stafford is expected to play much in the opening week of the NFL preseason—maybe a drive or two, at most—and there will be no joint practices between the teams, as the Chiefs have opted not to schedule any in 2026.

If Watson is to face Mahomes and his former teammates during the 2026 NFL season, it can only happen in Super Bowl LXI. It would be the perfect stage for Watson, as he could face his former team at home at SoFi Stadium on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14). Still, that’s a long ways ahead.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, “Do not expect a Puka Nacua contract extension before the season. Do not.” Hence, Nacua should focus on balling out this year to make his pricetag just go bigger and bigger for the Rams to payout.

Rapoport also stated that Nacua is in a better place mentally than he has been in previous training camps. Arguably the NFL‘s best WR, Nacua’s off-field shenanigans are his biggest roadblocks. However, it seems he is in a better place.

Nacua has established himself as an elite WR

In just three years in the NFL, Nacua already reached all-time great levels. If he decided to retired today, Nacua would be the the all-time leader in yards per game with 95.3. In fact, it’s absolutely insane that Nacua reached these levels all through his rookie contract.

Nacua averages 104.3 catches for 1.397 yards per season, alongside 6.3 touchdowns. Nacua’s abilities to run routes, catch through traffic and be basically unguardable have made him one of the best wideouts in the NFL.

Nacua has overcome all the odds

Nacua came into the league without much hype. He was at Washington and BYU and was drafted 177th overall, in the fifth round. Nacua wasn’t even expected to become this star, as the Rams had triple-crown winner Cooper Kupp.

Nacua started steamrolling defenders from his first game. He became the Rams WR1 in no time, and then he climbed into the top of the NFL. As of now, he is in the same conversation as Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, to mention a few.

The Rams have assembled one of the NFL’s most talented teams. On offense, the Rams feature an explosive core led by Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Puka Nacua, while the defense has been transformed after the blockbuster trade that brought Garrett to California.

General manager Les Snead once again embraced his aggressive roster-building philosophy, sacrificing premium draft capital to acquire elite talent now rather than focusing on the future. The Rams also strengthened their secondary by adding key pieces such as Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, making it clear the franchise intends to maximize the final years of Stafford’s career.

Myles Garrett wants Aaron Donald back

Even with an already stacked roster, Myles Garrett admitted he would love to see Aaron Donald come out of retirement and return to Los Angeles. That move could change the entire landscape in the NFC.

“I don’t want to push him in one way or another. If he’s here, I’m going to be excited to be his teammate, his partner in crime. I think we can do great things, but it’s a difficult thing coming back, and I know he has a family. He has a lot of decisions to make. There’s a lot we can learn from each other. I’d love to pick his brain on the kind of things he does to attack his matchups, and I think the same could be said vice versa.”

Garrett made it clear he respects Donald’s decision while also acknowledging how special it would be to line up beside one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.

What would Aaron Donald’s return mean for Rams?

If Aaron Donald decided to return, the Los Angeles Rams could instantly boast one of the most dominant pass-rushing duos the league has ever seen. Pairing Garrett with Donald would create a nightmare for opposing offensive lines and elevate an already championship-caliber defense to another level.

Combined with Los Angeles’ explosive offense, the Rams would likely become the overwhelming favorite to win the Super Bowl. For now, though, Donald hasn’t made official any plan to end his retirement. Even so, Garrett’s public recruiting effort will only fuel speculation that the Rams could make one final blockbuster move in their pursuit of another championship.

Sean McVay spoke recently on Aaron Donald’s future. Now, McVay said Corum will “be a big factor in what we’re going to do this year.” Corum competed but was the clear-cut RB2 behind Kyren Williams last year.

McVay also gave an update on Puka Nacua amid holdout rumors. The head coach has had a busy start to the training camp. The Rams have big hype behind them and now Corum could be one of the big factors to improve the team.

Blake Corum’s 2025 NFL season

Corum’s sophomore NFL season was one that saw him get increased snaps and that ended up being a very productive season for an RB2. Corum ended 2025 with 746 yards and six touchdowns.

Corum has shown he is a highly efficient running back for the Los Angeles Rams known for his exceptional vision, low center of gravity, and elite contact balance. He proved to be very reliable in short-yardage plays.

Rams offense looks like world beaters for next season

Having arguably the NFL’s best wide receiver in Puka Nacua, the reigning MVP in Matthew Stafford and mastermind like Sean McVay will certainly boost this team into new heights.

• QB – Matthew Stafford
• RB – Kyren Williams / Blake Corum
• LT – Alaric Jackson
• LG – Steve Avila
• C – Coleman Shelton
• RG – Kevin Dotson
• RT – Warren McClendon Jr.
• LWR – Davante Adams
• RWR – Puka Nacua
• SWR – Jordan Whittington
• TE – Colby Parkinson

Following news of Shanahan’s accident, questions arose about whether he could continue leading the 49ers and, specifically, travel with the team to Australia. Lynch pushed back on those concerns, stating: “That is not what we’re anticipating. The expectation is, long before that he’ll be better.”

Still, it may come down to the wire on whether Shanahan can make the trip. Lynch’s comments leave some uncertainty entering a season that could prove tough for San Francisco, according to a report from a San Francisco Chronicle writer.

Another report suggests a longer absence

In a piece for Sports Illustrated, Grant Cohn reported that Shanahan could miss anywhere from a single week to the entire season if the concussion he suffered doesn’t heal in time. Recovery requires extended rest and total commitment to getting healthy.

Cohn consulted a doctor regarding the injury. The physician noted, and Cohn wrote in his article, that the 49ers coach was likely knocked unconscious during the crash. The doctor added that out of 100 concussion patients, about 10% recover within a week, while another 10% need a full year to heal.

An official medical update from the 49ers is still pending. Regardless of whether someone is an NFL head coach or not, head trauma demands caution to prevent long-term complications. Entering 2026, Shanahan is set for his tenth season in San Francisco.

The 49ers’ early 2026 schedule

Missing Shanahan to start the year would be a blow. Beyond the opener against the Rams in Australia, the 49ers return home for a three-game homestand against Miami, Arizona, and Denver. Heading into that stretch without their head coach would be a tough test for team morale.

Per Stu Jackson, Rams Senior Staff Writer, Sean McVay said that Aaron Donald is “going through his process, and he is putting himself in a position to make a decision” on whether he wants to play. If Donald decides to, the Rams will make it happen, per Jackson. Still, McVay is unclear on what will happen.

Aaron Donald is arguably the best defensive player of all time, he belongs to the elite of the elite. Add that to the fact that the Rams traded for Myles Garrett in the offseason, and the pair would be an incredible problem for the opponents to deal with.

Aaron Donald is just one of many storylines going on for the Rams

It’s also been noted that Puca Nakua reported to training camp for the Rams, but he is still in need of a new contract as this is his final year in his rookie deal. Hence, the Rams are working to go all in on all fronts.

Aaron Donald has been having some workouts in the Rams facilities as he is still testing himself to see if he is able to come back. Donald is arguably the Rams’ best player ever, so everyone is hoping for one last, glorious dance.

Rams are a Super Bowl-or-bust team

With or without Aaron Donald, the fact is that the Rams are a Super Bowl contender. They have an elite coach in Sean McVay, the reigning MVP in Matthew Stafford, arguably the best receiving room in the NFL, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett, and an elite organization top to bottom.

Myles Garrett gave an interview to the Rams’ social media channels, and he said he wanted to discuss future plans with Donald. “We haven’t talked yet but definitely expect to talk soon. I don’t know what his plans are and I won’t pretend to know, but a lot of people are excited and thrilled about the possibility of him coming back.”

Donald retired in 2023 after a full decade of action in the NFL, all with the Rams. He recently said that the Rams acquiring Garrett made him think about coming back from retirement to join Garrett.

Aaron Donald is still in top shape

Aaron Donald has always been a freak of nature. He was an undersized linemen but that didn’t stop him from wrecking havoc despite getting double or triple coverage. Judging by the lifestyle of the 35-year-old, he is still in incredible shape.

Donald’s last season saw him get eight sacks, 23 QB hits, three passes defended, and got an All-Pro first team selection. He literally retired being the best in his position in the NFL. Now, a fire might have been re-kindled.

Rams’ projected defensive lineup if Donald returns

The Rams already had a top defense. It could get even better with the moves they made this year, and Donald coming back. Also, they managed to keep defensive coordinator Chris Shula, which was a great outcome for them.

• DE: Braden Fiske
• NT: Poona Ford
• DT: Aaron Donald
• LOLB: Byron Young
• LILB: Nate Landman
• RILB: Omar Speights
• ROLB: Myles Garrett
• LCB: Jaylen Watson
• SS: Kam Curl
• FS: Kamren Kinchens
• RCB: Trent McDuffie

Bold: New names for this season.

The possibility has gained momentum following the Rams’ aggressive roster construction. They now boast one of the league’s most talented teams after adding Myles Garrett to a defense that could become dominant, while the offense features stars such as Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Puka Nacua.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Donald acknowledged that the idea of returning has crossed his mind when asked about the possibility of joining Garrett on the Rams’ defensive front. “I texted Aaron Donald about coming out of retirement and playing for the Rams, alongside Myles Garrett: ‘I’m for sure flirting with the idea. Helluva an opportunity with the Super Bowl in SoFi this year. If I can find the fire, it’s a possibility.'”

Is Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to play for Rams?

Aaron Donald might come out of retirement. The intrigue surrounding a potential comeback grew even further after Pat McAfee also reached out to Donald to ask about the possibility of returning to the NFL. His response sounded remarkably similar to the one reported by Schultz. “It for sure got me thinking. Gotta see if that fire can light back up.”

At 35 years old, Donald has been away from the NFL for two seasons, but he has remained in outstanding physical condition since stepping away from the game. The biggest question does not appear to be whether his body can handle a return, but whether he can rediscover the motivation required to compete at the highest level again.

If Donald ultimately decides to come back, it would instantly become one of the biggest stories of the 2026 NFL season. Pairing one of the greatest defensive players of all time with Garrett on a roster already viewed as a legitimate Super Bowl contender could transform the Rams into one of the most feared teams in football.

The NFL landscape shifted on Monday when news confirmed that the Cleveland Browns and Rams had agreed to terms to send Garrett to Los Angeles. Almost immediately, Donald ignited the internet by hinting at a potential comeback on social media.

The retired future Hall of Famer uploaded a video teasing that he would seriously consider unretiring just to play alongside Garrett. When asked about the clip, McVay openly admitted that a return is not entirely off the table for the organization.

“Here’s what I would tell you guys overall, too: Aaron is a guy that I stay really close in touch with, and I know the respect that he has for Myles,” McVay said. “Talked to him about the opportunity to bring him 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.“

The Rams position themselves as top 2026 contenders

After watching their division rival Seattle Seahawks hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LX, the Rams’ front office wasted no time launching an aggressive offseason arms race. The acquisition of Garrett is a massive statement, but it is far from their only high-profile move.

Los Angeles has poured significant resources into rebuilding their defense from the back out. This offseason, the team pulled off a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie and fortified the secondary further by signing cornerback Jaylen Watson to a three-year deal.

Meanwhile, the offense secured its short- and long-term stability. The Rams handed veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford a new contract extension that runs through 2027. By subsequently selecting quarterback Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft, the front office has designed a seamless transition plan, allowing Stafford to serve as a premier mentor before eventually handing the keys over to the rookie.

The ultimate dynamic duo

If Donald decides to lace up his boots once again, it would provide an unprecedented boost to a roster already overflowing with star power. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is reportedly still in phenomenal physical shape; his retirement was driven by a lack of competitive desire rather than physical decline.

The arrival of Garrett might be exactly the catalyst Donald needs to return, giving football fans a chance to see what happens when you pair two of the most destructive defensive forces in modern NFL history on the exact same line.

The detailed production report was shared on X by Daniel Oyefusi. “Expected new Browns DE Jared Verse, who was the 2024 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, has 99 pressures since entering the league in 2024,” the reporter shared. This elite level of consistent performance could the franchise in the upcoming 2026 NFL season.

Oyefusi further emphasized his elite historical standing by comparing his data to Garrett and Micah Parsons. “Only Micah Parsons (119) and Myles Garrett (109) have more over that span, per ESPN Research,” the report detailed, adding that Verse turns 26 in November and is eligible for a contract extension after the 2026 season.

Verse can change things for the Cleveland defense

An examination of his early NFL stats demonstrates exactly why he is viewed as a game-changing asset for his new squad. During his magnificent 2024 debut season, the star edge rusher racked up 66 total tackles and 4.5 sacks on his way to earning Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Last year with the Los Angeles Rams, the dynamic defender took another massive leap forward by recording a career-high 7.5 sacks, 58 tackles, and forcing three fumbles. These stellar campaigns allowed him to be named a Pro Bowler two years in a row, representing his first two and only years in the NFL so far.

The young star could drastically help the Browns build a status of an stronger defensive unit. His high-energy playing style and elite ability to generate quick pressures ensure that the defensive line will continue to dictate the pace of games.