There's Growing Buzz About An Aaron Donald Comeback In 2026
It was just over two years ago that Los Angeles Rams DT Aaron Donald decided to retire after just 10 years in the NFL. But with the Rams bringing in Myles Garrett and giving him a record-setting pass rusher to line up next to him, there's growing buzz that he might rip up those retirement papers.
Speaking to the media this week, Rams safety Quentin Lake was excited at the prospect, asserting that Donald even considering coming out of retirement to play shows that they have what it takes to contend for a Super Bowl.
"When you have a guy that's that serious about even considering coming out, it's like ‘OK, we might have a chance,'" Lake said, via ProFootballTalk.
Lake is hardly the only one who's excited. Rams defensive lineman Kobie Turner said it'd be "cool for LA" and exciting to have two of the best defensive linemen on the generation together.
"To just have two historic, if you will, defensive players on that line together and to have the rest of us who are trying to build up our reputations, and to build to that level of greatness that they've been able to garner, I think that would be cool for L.A."
Donald & Garrett
Since 2017, Donald and Garrett have combined to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award five times (Donald thrice, Garrett twice). They have a combined 17 Pro Bowls and close to 250 career sacks between the two of them.
Donald himself never missed a Pro Bowl and was an eight-time First-Team All-Pro selection. He helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals, recording 2.0 sacks and three QB hits on Joe Burrow in the game.
After Donald retired at the end of the 2023 season, Garrett took up the mantle of the league's most dominant defensive player. Garrett is a seven-time Pro Bowler who has won Defensive Player of the Year honors in two of the last three seasons. This past year he made history by recording 23.0 sacks - the most for a single season in league history.
Together the two of them have the potential to form the core of one of the best defensive line groupings in generations.
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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM.