Why Aaron Donald’s retirement might not be entirely set in stone
If you can walk away from the NFL in good health while having accomplished everything of significance, you should take it and run. That’s what Los Angeles Rams legend Aaron Donald did when he retired earlier this offseason.
But according to Rams GM Les Snead, there might be an (extremely unlikely) possibility that Donald suits up in a helmet and shoulder pads once again soon.
In a recent interview with The Rich Eisen Show, Snead maintained that he would keep Donald’s phone number on speed dial in case the Rams make another playoff run. Why? Because he’s not entirely convinced Donald could stay away if he sees another potential Super Bowl championship in the front view mirror.
More from The Rich Eisen Show:
“I did mention to Aaron [Donald] that going back to our Super Bowl [56] run, that there was a player by the name of Eric Weddle, who kind of jumped into the playoffs, and we signed him to the practice squad,” Snead said. “And we standard elevated him for four straight games to a Super Bowl championship. So, I did mention if we happen to get to the playoffs again, maybe we’ll circle back and see if the cup’s not quite filled. But that’s just a rumor. I doubt Aaron’s going to do that.”
Donald walked away from the Rams with 10 Pro Bowls, eight First-Team All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year Awards, and, of course, that fateful win in Super Bowl 56. He is arguably the greatest defender in pro football history, and he will strut into Canton, Ohio, as a First-Ballot Hall of Famer one day. Lest I forget, according to Spotrac, the 32-year-old earned over $170 million in his 10 NFL seasons and left the game in good health — at least relative to how other football players might stand near the latter stages of their careers.
It would flatly be pretty shocking for Donald to come back to the game in any capacity, given that he really has nothing else to accomplish and is coasting in a well-deserved retirement.
Snead agreed on those points, but, as he continued on The Rich Eisen Show, that’s not gonna stop him from trying to get Donald back in the fold:
“Aaron’s [Donald] one of those guys where he’s so principled, he might feel uncomfortable that, ‘You know what, I didn’t go through those other 18 (games) with the guys, I’m not sure I can go through the playoffs with them,'” Snead said. “Not sure. We might tempt him. No breaking news here.”
Needless to say, Donald pulling a “Tom Brady” and coming back to the NFL this fall probably won’t come to fruition. But hey, I suppose crazier things have happened.