ESPN's Adam Schefter addressed the situation on his podcast, offering the clearest assessment yet of where things stand.
"Nobody is coming out right now and saying Aaron Donald is coming back," Schefter said. "But everybody is acknowledging that it is a possibility. The fact that it is even a possibility in June tells me that I think there's every possibility it will become more real in July. And I think, if and when the Los Angeles Rams present a plan to him as to how he would be used, I think it's more likely than not that he'll be back."
"The fact that this is even coming up, and the fact that the Rams have the team that they do, and the fact that Aaron Donald would get to play with Myles Garrett, and the fact that the Super Bowl is in LA this year — I just think the ingredients are there to make it happen."
What Donald Has Been Saying Without Saying Anything
Donald retired in March 2024 after ten seasons and has not played since, but the signals coming from his social media have been anything but retirement-coded.
His most recent Instagram workout post included the caption "#ready" with the song "Ain't Done" playing in the background. That doesn't seem like a coincidence.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: NFL insider Adam Schefter believes it's "more likely than not" that Aaron Donald will come out of retirement this season to play for the Rams.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 9, 2026
"Aaron Donald would get to play with Myles Garrett, the fact that the Super Bowl is in LA this year... I just think the… pic.twitter.com/itsS7Bym1J
Jason La Canfora reported separately that there is mounting chatter among players who know Donald as well as in coaching and scouting circles that he could be back at some point in 2026, and that the Rams would keep the door open for him to return at any point whether that is early in the season or mid-season.
The Case for Coming Back
Donald is 35 years old and retired, not because his play declined but because he had accomplished everything he set out to accomplish, including winning the Super Bowl.
In his final active season in 2023, he had 53 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, production that would make him a legitimate contributor on any roster in the league.
The Rams' current defensive front of Garrett, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner is already formidable.
.@AdamSchefter on Aaron Donald potentially coming out of retirement:
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) June 9, 2026
“I think when they present a plan to him on how he’d be used… I think it’s more likely than not that he’ll be back.”
(Schefter then confirms nobody has said Donald would return yet) pic.twitter.com/F0bR2KiXql
Adding Donald to that group would make it historically terrifying.
The Super Bowl is in Los Angeles this season. It feels like it's going to happen.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
