Aaron Donald Makes Stunning Statement About NFL Return

The Los Angeles Rams acquired Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns on Monday in one of the most seismic trades in recent NFL history, and the immediate reaction from Aaron Donald suggests the blockbuster may have done something no organizational recruitment had managed in two years.

It got him thinking.

I reached out to @AaronDonald97 this morning..

According to source(s) it for sure got him thinking..

He said he's 35 and he's gotta see if that fire can light backup..

Aaron Donald and Myles Garret playing together with the Rams would be INSANE #PMSLive https://t.co/u6ioUwWsHL pic.twitter.com/6Ikj8vlFe2

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 2, 2026

Pat McAfee texted Donald after the deal was announced to gauge his interest in unretiring.

Donald's response, per McAfee on his show Tuesday: "It for sure got me thinking."

He followed that up with: "Thirty-five, removed two years ago, gotta see if that fire can light back up."

Former Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers went further on Locked On Rams, saying he has knowledge others might not have and that his guy is staying ready.

Donald has been posting workout videos on social media for weeks, a detail that had generated speculation before the Garrett trade but had not been enough to produce a definitive statement of intent.

Scary: Former Rams DL Michael Brockers hints that the legendary Aaron Donald has been staying in shape and is considering coming out of retirement to play with Myles Garrett.

"(I have) some knowledge that others might not have... My guy is staying ready so he doesn't have to get… pic.twitter.com/ttsbvyU7O3

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 2, 2026

Donald was a player who received triple-team blocks on virtually every snap during his peak years in Los Angeles, and the presence of Garrett as the Rams' primary outside threat means that defensive attention would immediately shift in a way it never has in Donald's career.

He turned 35 in May and has been away from the NFL since announcing his retirement in March 2024 after the Rams lost to the Lions in the first round of the playoffs.

During his final active season, he was a first-team All-Pro for the eighth time and had eight sacks, leaving the game at a level that most defensive linemen would sacrifice significant money to play at.

The path back is actually pretty simple.

Donald is on the Rams' reserve/retired list and would need to be reinstated, but as an unrestricted free agent he could return on whatever terms he and the organization agreed to.

His veteran minimum salary would be $1.3 million based on his years of service, a number the Rams could absorb given their remaining cap flexibility.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images