Aaron Donald has not put on an NFL uniform in a competitive game since the 2023 season, but a single training-facility session in Los Angeles was enough to reignite comeback speculation across the entire league. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year completed a formal, helmeted workout at the Rams’ facility, a session significant enough that the team was required to report it to the league’s daily transaction wire.
That report alone does not confirm a return. Donald remains on the NFL’s retired list and would need to formally apply for reinstatement before he could rejoin an active roster. But the optics, and the timing, have made it nearly impossible for Rams fans not to dream about one of the greatest defensive linemen in league history suiting up again.
What Actually Happened
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Aaron Donald |
| Last active season | 2023 |
| Workout date | Wednesday, August 5, 2026 |
| Location | Rams team facility |
| Official classification | Tryout, per NFL transaction wire |
| Duration | Approximately 45 minutes, in helmet, without pads |
Why a Simple Workout Required League Reporting
Donald had reportedly been training at the Rams’ facility for weeks before this particular session, with earlier footage showing him conditioning on the practice field in July. What made the August 5 session different was that Donald wanted to work out in a helmet using official Rams equipment, a request that, under league rules, required the team to report the activity to the NFL as an official tryout.
Rams head coach Sean McVay leaned into the moment with characteristic humor, telling reporters it was the best tryout the team had ever conducted and joking that Donald could probably still make the roster. More seriously, McVay explained that reporting the workout was simply the mechanism the team used to train with Donald legally within league parameters, rather than a signal that a contract was imminent.
The Case for a Return
The football logic behind a potential comeback is not hard to understand. The Rams enter the season as legitimate Super Bowl contenders after reaching last year’s NFC Championship game, and they have since added All-Pro defensive lineman Myles Garrett and two accomplished cornerbacks from the Kansas City Chiefs’ secondary, including Pro Bowler Trent McDuffie. With reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford still at quarterback, the roster around Donald looks considerably stronger than the one he left behind after 2023.
Speculation around a return intensified in June, shortly after the Rams completed their trade for Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Pairing a rejuvenated Donald with Garrett on the same defensive line would give Los Angeles one of the most fearsome interior-to-edge combinations in the league, at least on paper.
What Still Needs to Happen
Workouts and speculation are one thing; a genuine return is another. Donald remains formally retired and would need to apply for reinstatement to the league before he could sign a contract or appear on an NFL roster again. McVay has been careful to manage expectations, telling reporters earlier in training camp that no decision from Donald would be coming during camp itself, while adding that things were, in his words, going in the right direction.
There is also a financial dimension to sort out. Reports have pointed to roughly $30 million in remaining questions tied to Donald’s prior contract situation that would need to be resolved before any new agreement could be finalized, adding a layer of complexity beyond simply deciding whether he is physically ready to play.
What Donald Would Bring at 35
Age is the obvious question mark. Donald, who turns 36 later this year, was already one of the most dominant defensive tackles in NFL history through his final season, earning an All-Pro selection and recording eight sacks in 2023 despite being deep into his thirties by that point. Whether that level of production can return after two and a half years away from competitive football is impossible to know for certain until pads go on in a real game.
What is clear is that Donald has kept himself in extraordinary condition throughout his retirement. Earlier this year, he even put current Rams star Jared Verse through an intense private workout at his own home after Verse requested the session publicly, a reminder that Donald has remained closely connected to the team and its younger core even while officially retired.
A Legacy Already Secure, Regardless of the Decision
Whatever Donald ultimately decides, his standing as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history is not in question. A ten-time Pro Bowler and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Donald anchored the Rams’ defense for a decade, including their Super Bowl-winning 2021 campaign, a run widely remembered as one of the most dominant defensive stretches in recent NFL history.
A comeback, if it happens, would add an unusual and compelling coda to that legacy: a future first-ballot Hall of Famer returning in his mid-thirties to chase one more championship alongside a roster genuinely built to contend. If it does not happen, the workout itself will still be remembered as one of the more captivating storylines of an already eventful Rams offseason.
Has Aaron Donald officially signed with the Rams?
No. Donald remains on the NFL’s retired list and has not signed a contract or been formally reinstated by the league.
Why was Donald’s workout reported to the NFL?
Because he used official Rams equipment and worked out in a helmet at the team facility, league rules required the session to be reported as a tryout on the daily transaction wire.
When did Aaron Donald last play in the NFL?
Donald last played during the 2023 NFL season before announcing his retirement.
Why has comeback speculation increased recently?
Speculation intensified after the Rams traded for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in June, raising the possibility of Donald joining an already strong defensive line.
What awards did Aaron Donald win during his career?
Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a ten-time Pro Bowler, and won a Super Bowl with the Rams following the 2021 season.
