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Aaron Donald
DT · LAR

Aaron Donald

Position DT
Team LAR
Bye Week —
PPR Rank —

Aaron Donald

NFL defensive player. Position: Defensive Tackle (DT). Team: Los Angeles Rams (retired; potential return).

Quick Facts

  • Position: Defensive Tackle (DT)
  • Team: Los Angeles Rams (retired after 2024 season)
  • Career: 10 years, three-time DPOY, one Super Bowl championship
  • Age: 35 heading into 2026 season

2026 Outlook

Aaron Donald announced his retirement in 2024 after a legendary 10-year run with the Rams that included three Defensive Player of the Year awards (2017, 2018, 2021) and one Super Bowl championship (2022). However, speculation emerged in early June 2026 that the Rams' blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett may have piqued his interest in a comeback. According to Pat McAfee, Donald texted him that the Garrett trade "for sure" got him thinking about returning at age 35. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed maintaining close contact with Donald, saying "if Aaron decides he wants to dust them off at the age of 35, I bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip" (per Could Aaron Donald come out of retirement? Rams' trade for Myles Garrett 'for sure'...). Donald remained in football shape and posted workout videos on Instagram with the hashtag "#ready." Most recently, Myles Garrett gave a Rams social media interview saying he expected to talk with Donald soon about Donald's future plans, signaling direct outreach from the new defensive lineman to the potential comeback candidate (per Myles Garrett hints at potential relationship with Rams legend Aaron Donald amid return rumors).

As of early July, NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that Donald's comeback is "closer than ever," with growing sentiment among Rams organization insiders that he'll play for the team in 2026. By July 8, La Canfora's reporting escalated significantly: the comeback is now "viewed as close to a done deal." Donald is actively telling people within the Rams organization how serious he is about ending his retirement, specifically to pair with Myles Garrett. While no firm timetable exists for a formal decision or training camp reporting, the Rams will keep the option open "for as long as he wants" (per Rams get game-changing new Aaron Donald return update from NFL insider). The Rams' strong defensive line depth (Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, Byron Young) means the team can ease Donald in gradually during the season rather than requiring him to grind through training camp (per NFL News: Insider Provides Update on Likelihood of Aaron Donald Unretiring, Rejoining...]).

July 11 workout update: Donald was spotted working out intensively at the Rams facility, spending an hour on ladder drills, medicine ball work, and agility exercises. The concrete evidence of in-person training at team facilities adds substantial credibility to the "done deal" reports from days earlier (per Report: Aaron Donald works out at Rams' facility).

July 23 latest update: McVay told Jason La Canfora on The Daily Flock podcast that Donald is still "thinking about" his return and "going through his process." McVay emphasized their special relationship transcends football: "He is thinking about this. He's going to go through his process. And the one thing about Aaron Donald is, what he does, he does it full speed ahead." McVay confirmed reports that Donald wants to get into football shape before committing, and the Rams are content to wait as long as needed. If Donald returns, his role would be rotational (25-30 snaps per game) to manage workload for the 35-year-old. The Rams are targeting a Super Bowl, not Week 1 availability—suggesting any Donald return would come midseason after proper preparation (per Sean McVay: Aaron Donald 'thinking about' potential return but still going 'through his process').

July 28 pre-training camp rankings: The New York Times' pre-training camp power rankings listed the Rams at #1, calling out Donald as the "maybe" factor in their Super Bowl push. The ranking emphasized that "they could coax one of the best defensive tackles of the last 20 years out of retirement," underscoring the team's confidence that a Donald return remains a legitimate possibility alongside the Myles Garrett trade as the centerpiece of their defensive transformation. (per Pre-training camp NFL Power Rankings: Rams on top, so where are the rival Seahawks? - The New York Times)

Role / Depth Chart

Retired defensive lineman; potential interior defensive line partner for edge rusher Myles Garrett if unretirement occurs.

Injury Status

No reported injuries.

Recent News

Open Questions

Sources

What the Experts Are Saying

Establish The Run2026 Fantasy Football Rankings: Major Updates from Training Camp News
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