LOS ANGELES —Aaron Donald is coming out of retirement and will play for the Los Angeles Rams this season. Donald confirmed the decision Sunday in a text to Jordan Schultz.
“I’ve been working the last 12-13 weeks to train my body and get it to a point where I felt like I could still play the game at a high level and be durable,” Donald told Schultz. “I am now ready to come back to try and do something special with this group of guys. We back.”
Terms came separately. Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported a one-year deal worth $20 million, with playoff incentives that can raise it to $30 million.
Donald retired in March 2024, after 10 seasons. He last played on Jan. 14, 2024, in a playoff loss at Detroit.
Aaron Donald’s $30 Million Contract
Until Sunday, the money had been the sticking point. Donald’s previous contract carried $30 million in its final year, and that figure sat dormant through the retirement. On Sunday morning, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk put the Rams’ available cap space at $16.7 million.
Schefter walked through the same problem on his podcast earlier in the week.
“Not only that, he currently is under contract to the Rams for $30 million,” Schefter said. “And I don’t know if the Rams are going to pay him $30 million, as much as he’d like to make that.”
The Myles Garrett Trade And Aaron Donald’s Summer Workouts
On June 1, Los Angeles traded for Myles Garrett, sending Cleveland a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, a 2029 third-round pick, and defensive end Jared Verse. Garrett grew up in Arlington and played at Martin High School before three seasons at Texas A&M. A day later, Donald texted Schultz.
“I’m for sure flirting with the idea,” Donald said. “Helluva an opportunity with the Super Bowl in SoFi this year. If I can find the fire, it’s a possibility.”
Through July and August, Donald trained at the Rams’ Woodland Hills facility. TMZ published video of a July 10 session. Two more workouts followed in August, both listed on the NFL’s transaction report as tryouts. He wore a helmet for the first and did not wear pads.
Thursday night, after the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, Rams coach Sean McVay took questions on the subject.
“I think all of those things are up in the air,” McVay said. “And I wish I had a little bit better ability to give you some clarity.”
On Sunday morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter that the Rams remained optimistic.
“Still no firm answer, but there’s not a huge rush here,” Fowler said. “He can come in as an in-season sniper. You know, he doesn’t have to play the 17 games.”
Aaron Donald’s Career With the Rams
In 2023, his last season, Donald had 8 sacks and 53 total tackles. He made his eighth Associated Press first-team All-Pro team that year and his tenth Pro Bowl. He finished with 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss, and 24 forced fumbles in 154 games. Three times he won Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year. He won Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, the year St. Louis drafted him thirteenth overall.
In February 2022, Donald won Super Bowl LVI with Los Angeles, 23-20 over the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium. The Super Bowl returns to SoFi in February.
Earlier Sunday, the Rams waived defensive tackle Larrell Murchison, per the league’s transaction wire. Rosters must be down to 53 by 3 p.m. CT.
Los Angeles opens against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is 7:35 p.m. CT at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kickoff in Melbourne is 10:35 a.m. Friday. Netflix has the broadcast.
