Aaron Donald’s return will trigger another Super Bowl push for the Los Angeles Rams. Last season, they were once again representing the NFC in the NFL’s title game. Going into the offseason with multiple players nearing retirement, Los Angeles knew that their window for another championship was closing.
The Rams decided to bolster their defense with blockbuster trades, acquiring superstar cornerback Trent McDuffie, along with last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett. Pairing last year’s Most Valuable Player, Matthew Stafford, with the best defensive player in the NFL crowns them with the league’s best roster.
The Rams’ offseason moves have not only turned heads around the league, but also gotten Donald’s attention. Los Angeles has become an obvious Super Bowl favorite after making the move for Garrett, and Donald’s decision could make the odds incredibly lopsided.
How does adding Donald bring in Super Bowl potential?
The Rams fell shy of their second Super Bowl appearance in three years, needing some minor additions to become championship-worthy. They have star power on the offensive side of the ball, with Davante Adams, Kyren Williams, and Puka Nacua. Stafford played his best football in 2025, leading the league in touchdowns, passing yards, and yardage gained per game. He simply needs to steer the ship of this high-powered offense once again. Will the defense be able to support him?
Los Angeles splurged on the defensive side of the ball in the offseason, incorporating Kamren Curl and McDuffie into the secondary, and Garrett in the trenches. The new additions look to refresh the attitude on defense, while awaiting one final piece to bring the Rams’ tradition back to the locker room.
Donald is the perfect player to carry that missing heritage, since the 2014 first-round draft pick has never worn another team’s colors. The impact wouldn’t be questioned, as Donald never earned a pass-rush grade lower than 90.0. His comeback to the NFL would be adding gasoline to an already cooking bonfire.
Why believe in Aaron Donald’s return?
Donald was a core factor for the 2023 Super Bowl victory, following the game with retirement as the confetti fell. He has kept up with strength and conditioning to maintain NFL shape, so a starting role on the Rams defensive line is well within reach for him. Videos of AD’s exercises on the practice field have been released, which have evolved theoretical speculations into realistic expectations. Head Coach Sean McVay has made his wish for Donald’s return to the team obvious.
The Los Angeles coaching staff can’t contain the excitement about their former first-round pick competing in the NFL again, telling the media about preparations for game plans. Garrett touched on the return, speaking with enthusiasm about playing football on the same defensive line as number 99. The Rams organization is just as anxious as the public to hear the news about Donald’s decision. Analysts have crowned the Rams as the team to beat for this upcoming 2026 season, and a potential pairing of the two most influential defensive linemen of the 2020s would make the defense unstoppable.
What could one man’s decision mean for the NFL?
The fate of the NFL hangs in the balance of whether Donald chooses to put on the cleats again or to leave them hanging. He would form one of the greatest defensive lines in football next to Garrett. Following the Super Bowl win of a division rival who crushed the dreams of another championship last season, the Rams would be a nightmare in the NFC West. The rest of the NFL would have to prepare their counterattacks.
