Sean McVay Weighs in on Aaron Donald's Potential Rams Return
The Los Angeles Rams sent a 9.0-level earthquake across the NFL landscape when they acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns on Monday.
The Rams received Garrett, a generational defensive end, and sent the Browns edge rusher Jared Verse, the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round draft pick, and a 2029 third-round draft pick (via Adam Schefter).
The Rams also received renewed interest from Aaron Donald, one of the best defensive tackles of all time, who retired as a Rams legend in March 2024.
Shortly after the trade, Donald’s four-day-old Instagram video went viral because he soundtracked it with Blxst’s “Ain’t Done.” I characterized it as Donald accidentally fueling rumors of his impending Rams return, but there was nothing accidental about what transpired Tuesday.
Donald texted ESPN’s Pat McAfee that Garrett joining the Rams “for sure got me thinking” about ending his NFL retirement. He similarly texted NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “I’m for sure flirting with the idea. Helluva opportunity with the Super Bowl in SoFi this year. If I can find the fire, it’s a possibility.”
Then, seven minutes into Garrett’s introductory Rams presser alongside head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead, McVay was asked about it.
“Listen, if he’s interested, there’s no question - here’s what I’ll say: You talk to Aaron, and you see what he’s saying about it,” McVay said with a smile. “Here’s what I would tell you guys overall, too, is Aaron’s a guy that I stay really close in touch with, and I know the respect he has for Myles. Talked to him about the opportunity to be able to bring him on board.”
McVay continued, “If Aaron decides he wants to dust ’em at the age of 35, I bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip.”
Donald only wore a Rams uniform in his 10-year NFL career. The then-St. Louis Rams drafted him 13th overall in 2014. He became a 10-time Pro Bowler, eight-time All-Pro, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer in due time.
The last time Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium hosted the Super Bowl, Donald harassed Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, forcing a fourth-down incompletion and sealing the Super Bowl LVI victory for the Rams in February 2022. I can only imagine what Donald and Garrett - who just set the NFL’s all-time single-season sack record in January, by the way - would do to an opposing quarterback in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi next February.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 9:01 PM.