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Aaron Donald reportedly contemplated retirement following the 2021 NFL season. He helped the Los Angeles Rams win a Super Bowl last season, capping off one of the greatest careers by any defensive player in NFL history. He has nothing left to prove, and his legacy will live on forever as an eventual member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He is one of only three players, along with Lawrence Taylor and JJ Watt, ever to be named the Defensive Player of the Year three times. Going out on a ring-winning season would have been a legendary send-off. Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams organization reportedly talked their superstar defensive lineman into returning to pursue another Super Bowl ring.
One offseason later, after the 2022 NFL season, Aaron Donald made a shocking change to his Twitter account. He changed his bio to call himself a "former NFL D Linemen for the Rams."
This simple word, "former," has sparked massive rumors around the NFL that Aaron Donald may retire for good this offseason. He has created all sorts of chaos on social media, including fans speculating about what he will do next. Some think his career is over, while others believe his use of the "former" indicates he wants to play for a different team next season.
A few minutes later, Aaron Donald quickly changed his bio, removing the "former" to indicate that he is still a member of the Rams.
Donald has spent his entire career with the Rams, following his college football career with the Pittsburgh Panthers. While he has apparently flirted with the idea of retirement from the NFL, there have been no reported indications that he's seeking to join a new team.
The Rams struggled to set a disappointing 5-12 record during the 2022 NFL season. The main reason for their decline was likely that many of their key players, including Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Allen Robinson, were injured.
The Rams' struggles may have created a reason for Donald to want out of Los Angeles, but that would require the franchise to trade him, as he's currently still under contract with no real chance of being released.
Aaron Donald's contract with the Rams
Aaron Donald signed a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2022 NFL offseason worth $60 million. This essentially makes it a three-year contract worth $95 million when added to his existing deal. His AAV of more than $31 million makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Donald remains under contract with the Rams until the conclusion of the 2024 NFL season, meaning he has two full years remaining on his deal. He also carries $44 million in dead cap money on his contract in 2023, making it nearly impossible for the Rams to consider releasing him during the upcoming offseason.
Unless he's traded, which is highly unlikely, or retires, which is possible, he will once again suit up for the Rams for the 2023 NFL season.
