Aaron Donald Drops Another Major Hint He’s Coming Out Of Retirement

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Aaron Donald retired two years ago with three Defensive Player of the Year awards, 111 career sacks, and a Super Bowl ring. Now he is texting NFL insiders, reacting to Instagram posts about playing alongside Myles Garrett, and telling people he is “for sure flirting with the idea” of coming back. At 35, the greatest interior defender in NFL history is making the football world very nervous.

The latest hint came when ClutchPoints shared a photo of Donald posing with two Super Bowl rings alongside a caption detailing the dream scenario of pairing him with Garrett on the Rams’ defensive line. Donald’s response was two words — or rather, two emojis: wide eyes. For a man who has been careful with his words throughout retirement, that reaction set off another round of frenzied speculation.

Aaron Donald Has Been Dropping Signals Since the Myles Garrett Trade

This buildup did not start with an emoji. It started the moment the Rams acquired Garrett from the Cleveland Browns in one of the most stunning trades of the offseason. The Rams landed Garrett in a blockbuster that sent Jared Verse and multiple draft picks to Cleveland — a price that confirmed Los Angeles is in full win-now mode.

Within days of the trade, Donald texted Pat McAfee that the Garrett deal “for sure got me thinking.” He then texted NFL insider Jordan Schultz to say the situation presented “a helluva opportunity,” adding that with the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium this season, he could see a path back if he could find the competitive fire again.

According to Polymarket, there is now a 49% chance Donald actually returns, and Adam Schefter went on ESPN’s NFL Live to say momentum was clearly building toward a reunion between Donald and the Rams.

Garrett himself has done nothing to cool the speculation. When the Rams introduced him to the media, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year said he relished the chance to talk to Donald and learn from him, making clear he would welcome the pairing on the defensive line.

What an Aaron Donald Comeback Would Mean for the Rams

The Rams are already making NFL history without him. Los Angeles became the first team ever to begin a season with both the reigning MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year on its roster — quarterback Matthew Stafford and Garrett filling those roles, respectively. Adding Donald to that equation would make an already terrifying defensive front almost unfair.

Sean McVay has made his position clear. When asked about a potential Donald return at Garrett’s introductory press conference, McVay said he stays in close contact with his former star, knows the respect between Donald and Garrett is mutual, and left no doubt about where he stands — if Donald wants back in at 35, McVay believes he can still perform at a high level and the door is wide open.

Donald walked away when he still had plenty left in the tank. The wide eyes emoji on the Fourth of July suggests he knows it, too.