Could Aaron Donald still dominate for the Rams? Why an NFL comeback might be more realistic than many think
The juggernaut was still one of the best defensive players in football when he retired in 2023
Few questions in football are more fascinating right now than this one: Can Aaron Donald still make an impact if he returns to the NFL? For most retired players, the answer would be easy. A two-year absence from football at age 35 would typically end any discussion about elite-level performance.
Aaron Donald is not most players. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year has become the subject of growing comeback speculation throughout the summer, with reports indicating he has continued training and even worked out with the Los Angeles Rams as he weighs a possible return. Rams head coach Sean McVay has done little to cool the rumors, openly acknowledging that Donald could still be effective if he decided to come back.
The bigger question is whether he could still be Aaron Donald. The strongest argument in favor of a comeback is simple: Donald wasn't declining when he retired. When he walked away following the 2023 season, he was still one of the best defensive players in football.
He finished that year with eight sacks, earned another Pro Bowl selection, and was named First-Team All-Pro for the eighth time in his career. Most NFL legends retire because their bodies no longer allow them to perform at a high level.
Donald retired because he no longer wanted the grind
Reports throughout 2026 have suggested that Donald has remained in excellent shape and has continued on-field work while considering a return. Multiple NFL insiders have described a comeback as a legitimate possibility rather than a publicity stunt. And if he returns, he would be stepping into perhaps the most favorable situation of his career.
Myles Garrett changes everything. During Donald's prime, opposing offenses often built entire game plans around stopping him. Now imagine offensive coordinators trying to handle Donald and Myles Garrett on the same defensive front. The Rams' blockbuster acquisition of Garrett has dramatically altered the equation. Sean McVay recently joked that if Donald decides to "dust them off" at age 35, he could still perform "at a pretty high clip."
He's probably right. Donald would no longer need to be the centerpiece of every defensive game plan. Garrett's presence would create one-on-one opportunities that Donald rarely enjoyed during his first stint in Los Angeles. For the first time in years, Donald might actually face fewer double teams than the players around him. That's a terrifying thought for quarterbacks.
Of course, there are legitimate reasons for caution because football is different from training. Donald has not played in an NFL game since the Rams' playoff loss following the 2023 season. By the time he takes the field again, nearly three years will have passed since his last meaningful snap.
History is not especially kind to players returning after multi-year retirements. The physical demands of playing defensive tackle are immense. Conditioning can be rebuilt. Timing, reaction speed, and the ability to withstand constant collisions are much harder to replicate outside of live competition.
Even supporters of a comeback acknowledge that expecting the 2018 version of Aaron Donald would be unrealistic. The player who once routinely posted double-digit sacks while facing constant double teams may not exist anymore. But that doesn't mean he can't still be highly effective.
The Rams don't need Donald to be the best defensive player in football. They need him to be a productive one. Even if Donald returns at 80 percent of his peak level, he would likely remain one of the better interior defensive linemen in the NFL . His technique, leverage, football intelligence, and hand usage have always separated him from other players. Those skills don't disappear overnight.
