He’s back.
Future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, more than two years after retiring and months after stoking a comeback frenzy, will return to play for the Los Angeles Rams.
The three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year is coming out of retirement to bolster the Rams’ push for a Super Bowl, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Sunday. Donald, 35, is signing a one-year, $20 million deal that can be worth up to $30 million with playoff incentives, per Rapoport and Schefter.
The Rams announced Donald returning to play for the team shortly after.
A potential comeback for Donald initially seemed like something of a pipe dream shortly after Los Angeles acquired Myles Garrett in a trade with the Cleveland Browns on June 1.
Very quickly, this fantasy scenario began to take realistic shape, with head coach Sean McVay speaking often on the prospect in a positive light but giving Donald his time to decide. Prospects were galvanized when Donald had an official tryout, as deemed by the league's transaction wire, on Aug. 5 Donald, who had already stopped by the Rams' facility on previous occasions, worked out with a helmet on but sans full pads. He also used team equipment, so the team was required to report it officially to the league. Los Angeles similarly reported a second tryout by Donald on Aug. 16.
Now, Donald is indeed rejoining the Rams in full pads, further stocking a loaded Rams teams and bolstering a defensive line that will be lauded as a new-age Fearsome Foursome.