Aaron Donald Rams' comeback rumors sparked by Myles Garrett post. What to know

To come back or not to come back, that is the question.

It's the NFL offseason's biggest unanswered question and only Aaron Donald knows the answer. Donald, now 35, retired at the age of 32 after a dominant run in the league with the St. Louis and then-Los Angeles Rams. He made the decision official on March 15, 2024, after previously flirting with the idea of walking away.

The news was fairly shocking at the time, but came after Donald's passion for the game waned and the checklist of things to accomplish was essentially complete. However, that fire might've been lit once again after the Rams made a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett.

"[The Myles Garrett trade] for sure got me thinking," Donald said via text, per "The Pat McAfee Show" on June 2.

"Gotta see if that fire can light back up," he wrote.

With most of the NFL's offseason moves likely now in the history books, a potential Donald return seems to be the last domino to fall. But will it?

Here's what to know about Donald and whether he is planning to come out of retirement.

Is Aaron Donald coming out of retirement?

Donald hasn't said if he'll come out of retirement. However, that doesn't mean the signs aren't there.

The All-Pro defender was recently spotted at the Rams' facility working out and going through drills on July 10, according to TMZ.

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Deep breath, Rams Nation ... Aaron Donald was spotted working out at the team's practice facility on Friday -- as the retired NFL superstar continues to mull a comeback! (🎥 @TMZ_Sports ) pic.twitter.com/IHjQP5akmD

— TMZ (@TMZ) July 11, 2026

Garrett then fueled the speculation again on July 12, when he posted a Donald jersey on his Instagram story.

Myles Garrett did some unpacking and stumbled across a gem 😮‍💨

A not-so-subtle message for Aaron Donald? 👀

(via flash_garrett/IG) pic.twitter.com/e0eJzKKBZi

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 12, 2026

All of this stems from some workout clips that Donald posted on social media. It wasn't uncommon for the former Defensive Player of the Year to share those videos, but the timing got people thinking about how lethal those two could be on the Rams' defensive line.

Donald is running out of time if he wants to come out of retirement though. Rookies and veterans are set to report to Rams' training camp on July 25, with the preseason to soon follow after that.

Why did Aaron Donald retire?

Donald explained that he lacked a passion to continue playing and was happy with his accomplishments after 10 years in the league.

"I'm complete. I'm full," Donald told the Rams' official site at the time. "I think the passion to play the game is no longer there for me. I will always love football, but to think about going through another camp and another 17-[game] season, I just don't got the urge to want to push myself through that no more.

"I'm just, I'm burnt out. The best way to say it is I'm full, I'm complete. I'm satisfied with what I was able to do in 10 years. I think it's time for me at 32 years old to retire from football and jump into the next step of my career, my life. Now it's time to move on."

What Les Snead, Sean McVay have said about potential Aaron Donald return

Fortunately for Donald, this isn't a one-way street. Everyone involved appears ready to welcome him back with open arms.

General manager Les Snead joined "The Rich Eisen Show" on June 3 and was asked about the chances that Donald decides to return.

"I do think for the first time since he's retired, he's maybe tempted," Snead said. "Maybe do one last stand. I don't know if he's been tempted since he has been retired."

"I think if you know Aaron at his core, he's one of those humans that if he doesn't think he can really, really help, he probably doesn't want to try," he added.

Head coach Sean McVay had similar thoughts when he spoke with reporters on June 2.

"Interested, there is no question," McVay said, before pausing and telling reporters in attendance that they should see what Donald has to say. "Aaron's a guy I stay really close in touch with and I know the respect that he has for Myles (Garrett), talked to him about the opportunity to be able to bring him onboard.

"If Aaron decides he wants to dust them off at the age of 35, I bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aaron Donald Rams' comeback rumors sparked by Myles Garrett post. What to know