Published: 21:11 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 21:57 BST, 30 August 2026
The Super Bowl favorites are adding a future Hall of Famer.
Aaron Donald, a former Super Bowl Champion and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is coming out of retirement at age 35 to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams, The Daily Mail has confirmed. ESPN was first to report the agreement between the Rams and the 6ft 1in, 280-pound defensive tackle.
And as Donald's agent Todd France confirmed to The Daily Mail, the one-year deal is worth $20 million and could reach $30 million with incentives.
Donald now joins the Rams’ other major off-season acquisition, reigning NFL Defensive player of the Year Myles Garrett, on what should be a ferocious front seven in Los Angeles.
Already considered to be Super Bowl favorites, the veteran Rams have been rumored to be bringing Donald back since acquiring Garrett from the Cleveland Browns for budding pass rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick. In fact, Donald had made numerous appearances at the Rams' training facility in recent weeks, although he has not been practicing with his new teammates.
ESPN's Adam Schefter stoked fan interest back in June by posting a graphic of Garrett alongside Donald on X with the caption: 'Next in line in LA.'
Aaron Donald, a former Super Bowl Champion and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is coming out of retirement at age 35 to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams, ESPN is reporting
Rumors were stoked in June by this tweet from ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter
And the Rams didn't exactly hide the looming possibility of Donald's return.
Asked about the legendary interior lineman earlier this month, Rams head coach Sean McVay told Sports Central LA: 'The latest is he's putting himself in a position to make a decision. He's working hard, he's feeling good.'
McVay continued: 'He's taken great care of himself in the two years that he's been off… he's feeling good so far. I think we'll have a little bit more of an update once we leave here and get back to Woodland Hills.
'But things are looking positive. But again, he doesn't owe us anything. We'll take it a day at a time.'
Curiously, Donald seemed determined to remain retired when speaking to The Daily Mail's Jake Fenner a year earlier.
'For me, retirement's been pretty good, right? Because I left on my own terms when I wanted to,' Donald told the Daily Mail.
