Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion Aaron Donald is coming out of retirement, and he isn’t returning to Los Angeles alone.
Donald is joining forces with newly acquired two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, giving the Rams two of the most dominant defensive players of their generation on the same roster.
Donald signed a one-year, $20 million contract to return to the Rams. The deal also includes incentives that could bring the total value to $30 million if Donald reaches them. The reunion has been highly anticipated since the June trade for Garrett, and both Donald and the Rams felt comfortable enough to reunite.
The combination of Donald and Garrett gives Los Angeles a defensive duo capable of changing the way opposing offenses approach the game. Both players have built their careers on creating pressure in the backfield and disrupting opposing quarterbacks, and now offenses will have to account for both of them on the same defensive front.
But the Rams aren’t relying solely on their defense to make a run at another championship.
Los Angeles already boasts a highly touted offense led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, and running back Kyren Williams. With an experienced quarterback and playmakers across the offense, the Rams have built a roster that can threaten opponents on both sides of the ball.
With the addition of Garrett and now the return of Donald, Los Angeles has emerged as one of the NFL’s biggest title contenders this offseason. FanDuel has the Rams listed at +500 to win the Super Bowl, reflecting the expectations surrounding a team that has added two future Hall of Fame-caliber defensive stars to an already talented roster.
For the Rams, the pressure isn’t simply to make the playoffs. The goal is to win another Lombardi Trophy.
The 2027 Super Bowl will take place on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium, giving Los Angeles the opportunity to potentially finish its season in its own stadium. The Rams last won the Super Bowl in 2022, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 at SoFi Stadium.
Before Los Angeles can think about playing for a championship at home, however, Donald will have to make his long-awaited return to the field.
Donald will make his highly anticipated return Thursday, Sept. 10, against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Australia.
After two years away from the game, Donald’s return will immediately put one of the NFL’s most recognizable defensive forces back on the field. Paired with Garrett and surrounded by a roster built to contend, the question is no longer whether the Rams have assembled enough star power.
The question is whether Los Angeles has assembled its Avengers, and whether they can finish the season as champions.
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