Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald has rejoined the Los Angeles Rams after ending his two-season retirement, the team announced in a statement on Sunday. The 35-year-old defensive tackle — an eight-time All Pro selection who played a crucial role in the Rams’ 2022 Super Bowl victory — retired from the sport in 2024 after 10 seasons.
However, Donald has now been tempted out of retirement to join a Rams defense which has already been bolstered by the arrival of defensive superstar Myles Garrett earlier in the offseason. US media reports said Donald had signed a one-year contract worth $20 million.
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“I’ve been working the last 12-13 weeks to train my body and get it to a point where I felt like I could play the game at a high level and be durable,” US media quoted Donald as saying. “I am now ready to come back to try and do something special with this group of guys.”
Donald’s return comes with the Rams targeting a repeat of their 2022 Super Bowl win which came at their home SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The 2026-2027 Super Bowl will also take place at SoFi Stadium.
Donald is one of only three players to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award on three occasions, along with Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in all ten years he played in the league, a record matched only by former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders.
© 2024 AFP
