Aaron Donald ends 2.5-year retirement to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams

Aaron Donald, the NFL defensive star, has returned to the Los Angeles Rams, ending a two-and-a-half-year retirement to join forces with Myles Garrett on the defensive line. The Rams announced the decision on Sunday following weeks of discussions and intensive training by the veteran lineman. Donald has agreed to a one-year contract, which ESPN reports will earn him at least $20 million in a deal heavily laden with incentives. Donald, 35, had retired abruptly in March 2024 after a stellar 10-season career, during which he earned three AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and eight All-Pro selections. He began contemplating a return this summer after the Rams acquired Garrett, one of his few peers in contemporary defensive play. Donald spent nearly two months in physical preparation to test his body against the demands of another NFL season. With quarterback Matthew Stafford leading the league's top-ranked offense, the Rams were already considered favorites for a Super Bowl title. Donald’s return, alongside the addition of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, bolsters a defense now poised to complement the team's elite offensive unit.