Aaron Donald Unretires, Rejoins Rams in Quest for Super Bowl Glory!

Fans of the Los Angeles Rams and television industry leaders are both celebrating today for the same reason.

Aaron Donald, the standout defensive tackle who propelled Los Angeles to a Super Bowl win in 2022, has announced his return to the NFL this season after retiring.

The Rams made the announcement public by posting a letter on official Rams stationery addressed to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, which simply stated, “Dear Commissioner Goodell: I’m Back,” signed by Donald himself.

Even before Donald’s return, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Rams as the favorites to clinch the Super Bowl, which will take place at their home stadium, SoFi Stadium, in 2027.

Additionally, the comeback of a premier defensive star to a team in America’s second-largest media market is a significant plus for networks and streaming services broadcasting NFL games. The 35-year-old Donald had retired before the 2024 season but hinted at a possible return earlier this summer, leading to several practice sessions with the team in August, overseen by head coach Sean McVay.

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While the specifics of his contract were not disclosed by the Rams, reports from ESPN and NFL Network indicate that it’s a one-year deal worth $20 million, with potential playoff bonuses that could increase the total value to $30 million.

Over his ten-season career with the Rams, Donald has been one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive linemen, amassing 111 sacks, 24 forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.

He is among only three players in NFL history to have won the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award three times—in 2017, 2018, and 2020.

If Donald can perform close to his previous levels, his return could provide the Rams with a formidable defensive lineup, especially since they acquired last year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, on June 1.

Garrett, aged 30, broke the NFL record for most sacks in a single season last year with 23 and led the league with 33 tackles for loss.

According to ESPN, this makes the Rams the only team with two active players who have each won multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards.

The Rams will face their longtime NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, this Thursday on Netflix for their Opening Night game. Whether Donald will play has not been confirmed.

City News Service contributed to this report.