Rams’ GM May Convince Aaron Donald To Return For Playoffs

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead may be trying to convince former superstar defensive lineman Aaron Donald to make a comeback.

Donald announced his retirement from football earlier this offseason, but Snead may have a trick up his sleeve.

“I did mention to Aaron that going back to our Super Bowl 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 during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. “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.”

Snead is referring to when the Rams did this very thing with Weddle—a former safety—in 2021. Weddle spent 2019 in Los Angeles, but retired that ensuing offseason. Two years later, LA looked primed to make a Super Bowl run, so the Rams signed Weddle heading into the playoffs.

In spite of having not played in a couple of seasons, Weddle ended up participating in all four of Los Angeles’ postseason games that winter, logging 18 tackles en route to helping the Rams win a championship.

But could Snead get Donald to follow the same track? He isn’t so sure.

“Aaron’s 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.”

Of course, this is all assuming LA even makes the playoffs.

Donald is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he registered 53 tackles and eight sacks.

The 33-year-old made the Pro Bowl in all 10 of his NFL campaigns and also added eight First-Team All-Pro selections to his resume. He won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and, most importantly, was an integral part of that 2021-22 Rams team that won it all.

Aaron Donald is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, and he proved this past season that he still has plenty left in the tank.