NFL Transfers & Rumours
Aaron Donald’s Shock NFL Comeback ‘Closer Than Ever’ as Rams Rumours Intensify
Super Bowl LVI - Los Angeles Rams v Cincinnati Bengals by Rob Carr | Getty Images
With training camp now less than a month away, the NFL is widely anticipating the return of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald to the Los Angeles Rams.
What began as speculation and then became very well-informed buzz is now being viewed as close to a done deal, with Donald wanting to play with Myles Garrett, whom the Rams acquired this offseason, and telling even more people within the Rams organization of how hard he is leaning into ending his retirement.
There remains no firm timetable for him to formalize his decision, let alone report to the Rams, and they will keep that option open for him as long as he wants.
But there is also a growing sense among some in the Rams organization and around the league that Donald will be back with them for a majority of the 2026 season.
Becoming An Open Secret
Don’t expect to see Donald for the start of camp and the early stages of practices, and the Rams will come out saying Donald will be on a pitch count and they will take their time ramping him up for game action.
But this is one of the more driven and impactful defensive linemen of his generation, and if he is coming back, and he will be, it’s not just to be a sporadic contributor.
“He’s going to be a problem,” one NFL GM told me. “He didn’t put on 50 pounds. He’s stayed in shape. I don’t think it’ll take him that long to get back in game shape.”
The Rams are the betting favorites to lead the NFL in wins and to win the Super Bowl. Once Donald’s plan becomes official, expect those odds to drop again.
Donald was a perennial favorite to be the NFL’s defensive player of the year, and he retired with one Lombardi Trophy already on his resume and at the top of his game, not as a declining veteran just hanging on for another paycheck.
He played 10 years before retiring in 2023, and was one of the best-conditioned players in the game throughout his tenure.
Editor's Insight
This feels like more than a rumour now, but timing remains key. If Donald confirms a return, Rams’ Super Bowl odds will shorten fast. Our view: he does come back, but eased in rather than full-time impact straight away. Early betting value likely disappears quickly once anything becomes official.
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La Canfora has covered over 20 Super Bowls and League Meetings and NFL drafts, building a wide network of sources throughout all aspects of the game. He was an award winning print journalist as well, working at The Detroit Free Press and The Baltimore Sun prior to his first stint at The Washington Post. He has covered sporting events around the world, including two Winter Olympics and all of the 2006 World Cup. He attended his first NFL game in 1978, and would soon kindle what has become a lifelong love and appreciation of the sport. La Canfora is also a professional handicapper, specializing in the NFL, creating a daily sports wagering game show - "Wanna Bet?" He also hosts nationally broadcast NFL radio shows in the US, as well as a daily sports radio show in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.