The Surprising Future Garrett Envisions with Donald Back

Updated July 30, 2026 9 min read

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Myles Garrett Envisions Great Things if Aaron Donald Returns to the Rams

TL;DR: Myles Garrett, now a member of the Los Angeles Rams, has publicly expressed his excitement about the possibility of legendary defensive tackle Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to rejoin the team. Head coach Sean McVay has also addressed the scenario, fueling speculation across the NFL. If Donald returns, the combination of Garrett and Donald on the same defensive line would give Los Angeles one of the most fearsome pass-rushing duos in league history.

Myles Garrett envisions great things if Aaron Donald returns to the Los Angeles Rams, calling the prospect a potential dream scenario for the franchise. The former Cleveland Browns star, now donning a Rams uniform, has made no secret of his desire to share the field with the retired defensive tackle.

Quick Answer

Myles Garrett has expressed strong enthusiasm about Aaron Donald potentially coming out of retirement to play alongside him on the Los Angeles Rams defensive line. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed the team has discussed both acquiring Garrett and the possibility of Donald returning. Garrett described playing with Donald as a “dream come true,” sparking widespread NFL speculation about whether the three-time Defensive Player of the Year will unretire.

What Is Behind Garrett’s Excitement About Donald’s Return?

Garrett’s enthusiasm stems from the extraordinary talent gap between Donald and virtually every other interior defensive lineman in NFL history. Aaron Donald accumulated 111 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, and three AP Defensive Player of the Year awards during his ten-season career with the Rams before announcing his retirement. Pairing that dominance with Garrett’s own elite pass-rushing ability — a former number-one overall pick and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year — creates a combination that NFL defenses would struggle to counter.

According to ESPN’s coverage, Garrett has been vocal inside the Rams facility about how transformative Donald’s presence would be. The defensive end believes that adding Donald to a unit that already includes himself would instantly elevate Los Angeles into Super Bowl contention. The pairing would mirror历史上 dominant defensive duos like Reggie White and Clyde Simmons in Philadelphia or Bruce Smith and Cornelius Bennett in Buffalo.

How Did Myles Garrett End Up on the Rams?

Garrett’s arrival in Los Angeles marked one of the most significant roster moves of the 2026 offseason. After spending his entire career with the Cleveland Browns and publicly requesting a trade, Garrett found a new home with the Rams. Head coach Sean McVay pursued Garrett aggressively, recognizing that the defensive end’s combination of speed, power, and technique would complement the team’s existing defensive structure.

McVay discussed the pursuit of Garrett in detail during recent press availability, explaining that the coaching staff viewed Garrett as a foundational piece for the defensive line. The trade signaled the Rams’ commitment to building a championship-caliber defense in the post-Donald era — or, as it now appears, potentially alongside Donald himself.

What Has Sean McVay Said About a Possible Donald Return?

Sean McVay addressed the Aaron Donald speculation directly, acknowledging that the organization has had conversations about the possibility. While McVay stopped short of confirming any active negotiations, his comments suggested the door remains open for the franchise icon to return. McVay’s willingness to discuss the topic publicly indicates that the interest is genuine rather than mere media speculation.

McVay emphasized that any decision regarding Donald’s return would ultimately rest with the player himself. The head coach noted that Donald earned the right to determine his own future after a career defined by relentless dominance and unwavering commitment to the Rams organization. The coaching staff has reportedly maintained a respectful line of communication with Donald throughout the offseason.

Why Would Aaron Donald Consider Coming Back?

Several factors could motivate Donald to reverse his retirement decision. First, the addition of Myles Garrett transforms the Rams’ defensive outlook significantly. Donald departed after the 2024 season partly because the roster around him was not positioned for an immediate championship run. With Garrett now anchoring the edge rush and a revamped supporting cast, the competitive calculus has shifted dramatically.

Second, the opportunity to play alongside another generational talent like Garrett presents a unique motivator for a competitor of Donald’s caliber. According to reporting from the New York Post, former teammates have described Donald’s potential return as something that would represent a “dream come true” for everyone in the organization. The chance to pursue another Super Bowl ring — this time with a dominant partner on the interior — could reignite Donald’s competitive fire.

What Would Garrett and Donald Together Mean for the NFL?

The implications of a Garrett-Donald partnership extend far beyond the Rams’ roster. NFL offensive coordinators would face an unprecedented challenge in game-planning against a defensive front that features two players capable of wrecking any play design. The statistical potential is staggering: both players have posted seasons with 15 or more sacks, and both have consistently ranked among the league leaders in pressures and hurries.

Player	Career Sacks	DPOY Awards	Pro Bowl Selections	Position
Aaron Donald	111	3	10	Defensive Tackle
Myles Garrett	102.5 (through 2025)	1	7	Defensive End

Research shows that interior pressure disrupts passing offenses more efficiently than edge pressure alone, because quarterbacks cannot step up in the pocket to avoid edge rushers. Donald’s ability to collapse the pocket from the inside, combined with Garrett’s speed off the edge, would create a pincer effect that even elite quarterbacks would find nearly impossible to navigate consistently.

What Are the Risks of Donald Coming Out of Retirement?

Despite the tantalizing possibilities, there are legitimate concerns about a Donald return. Retirement often leads to physical deconditioning, and at 35 years old, Donald would need to rebuild the strength and conditioning base that made him the most dominant defensive lineman of his generation. The risk of injury increases with age and time away from the sport, and a diminished Donald would not deliver the impact that the hype suggests.

There are also roster and salary cap considerations. The Rams have allocated significant resources to acquiring Garrett, and fitting Donald’s potential contract into the existing cap structure would require careful financial maneuvering. General manager Les Snead would need to restructure existing deals or create new cap space to accommodate both superstar salaries while maintaining depth across the roster.

How Do Current Rams Players Feel About the Possibility?

Garrett is not the only Ram who has expressed excitement about Donald’s potential return. Multiple players on the defensive side of the ball have indicated through social media and media availability that they would welcome Donald back with open arms. The locker room culture that McVay has built in Los Angeles emphasizes respect for franchise legends, and Donald’s return would be embraced as both a competitive boost and a morale advantage.

According to Yardbarker’s analysis, the question of whether Garrett has been actively recruiting Donald has become a talking point across NFL media. While Garrett has been careful not to overstep, his public comments clearly signal that he wants Donald on the field beside him. The dynamic between the two players — a current superstar courting a retired legend — adds a compelling narrative layer to the Rams’ 2026 campaign.

Key Takeaways

Myles Garrett has openly expressed his desire to play alongside Aaron Donald, calling it a “dream come true” scenario for the Rams defense.
Head coach Sean McVay confirmed that the organization has discussed the possibility of Donald returning from retirement.
The addition of Garrett to the roster has reportedly shifted the competitive calculus for Donald, making a return more appealing than when he initially retired.
A Garrett-Donald pairing would create one of the most dominant defensive fronts in NFL history, combining elite edge rushing with generational interior pressure.
Risks include Donald’s age-related physical concerns, potential injury risk, and significant salary cap implications for the Rams organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Aaron Donald officially committed to returning from retirement?

As of July 2026, Aaron Donald has not made any official announcement about returning from retirement. However, multiple reports from ESPN and the New York Post indicate that conversations between Donald and the Rams organization are ongoing, and both Myles Garrett and Sean McVay have publicly expressed optimism about the possibility.

What makes the Garrett-Donald pairing so special?

The pairing is historically significant because both players have won the AP Defensive Player of the Year award and have accumulated over 100 career sacks. Donald’s ability to generate interior pressure combined with Garrett’s elite edge-rushing skills would create a defensive front that no offensive line could consistently neutralize, fundamentally altering how opposing teams must game-plan against the Rams.

When did Myles Garrett join the Los Angeles Rams?

Myles Garrett joined the Los Angeles Rams during the 2026 offseason via a blockbuster trade from the Cleveland Browns. The move was part of the Rams’ effort to build a championship-caliber defense, and it set the stage for the speculation about a potential Aaron Donald reunion.

What did Sean McVay say about the possibility of Donald returning?

Sean McVay acknowledged that the Rams have discussed both the pursuit of Myles Garrett and the possibility of Aaron Donald returning from retirement. While McVay did not confirm active negotiations, he stated that the organization respects Donald’s decision-making process and that the door remains open for the franchise icon to return to the team.

How old is Aaron Donald, and could age be a factor if he returns?

Aaron Donald was born on May 29, 1991, making him 35 years old as of July 2026. Age and time away from professional football would be legitimate concerns, as physical conditioning and the ability to withstand NFL-level punishment tend to decline in a player’s mid-thirties. However, Donald’s exceptional work ethic and technical skill could help mitigate some of these concerns.

What would a Donald return mean for the Rams’ Super Bowl chances?

If Donald returns at or near his previous level of play, the Rams would possess arguably the most talented defensive front in the NFL. Industry data indicates that teams with elite defensive pressure convert regular-season success into playoff runs at significantly higher rates. The combination of Garrett and Donald would make the Rams legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the 2026 season.

Conclusion

Myles Garrett’s public enthusiasm about Aaron Donald’s potential return to the Los Angeles Rams has captured the attention of the entire NFL. With Sean McVay confirming that the organization has explored the possibility, and with multiple players and insiders expressing optimism, the scenario has moved beyond pure speculation into a genuine storyline to monitor throughout the 2026 season. For more information on the latest Rams roster moves, see our coverage of NFL offseason trades and free agency.

The bottom line is that Garrett envisions great things if Donald returns — and based on the historical dominance both players have displayed, those visions are grounded in football reality rather than wishful thinking. Whether Donald ultimately decides to unretire or remains on the sidelines, the conversation itself underscores the Rams’ aggressive push to build a championship defense and the magnetic pull that elite competition holds for generational talents like Aaron Donald. The Rams defense of 2026, anchored by Garrett and potentially restored by Donald, could write one of the most remarkable chapters in franchise history.