Could NFL legend Aaron Donald make his grand return? The Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford recently opened up about Donald’s possible unretirement and what he’s been up to lately. And guess what? The team’s head coach, Sean McVay, may have some role in the defensive powerhouse’s return. 

“I’m sure he could come back and play at a high level. I’m just not sure if he does. I just, I mean, I would never, you know, close that door, and Sean probably knows more about that than I do,” Matthew weighed in on Donald’s return. 

While speaking on the Let’s Go podcast alongside Maxx Crosby, Peter King, and Jim Gray, the Rams QB left it to Sean to know where Donald’s mind is at. Why? It’s because the former NFL player is probably having the time of his life with family, something that an active athlete can’t get enough of. But that was not all from the QB.

Additionally, Matthew Stafford called Aaron “unbelievable” and lauded his physical readiness even after retirement. In fact, he thinks Aaron can hit the field any day and play at a high level if he wants to. When pressed further about Donald’s potential role on the contending team this season, Matthew set the record straight. 

“I would love to have AD back, but we’ll see if he’s into that. I wouldn’t think so.”

While Stafford’s comments didn’t confirm anything solid, one can’t completely rule out the possibility. The franchise Donald has dedicated his whole career to will take him back in a heartbeat. The once defensive backbone of the Rams is a ten-time Pro Bowler, eight-time First-Team All-Pro, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year. 

But before we get our hopes high, it’s worth noting what Aaron has said about coming back. 

Has Aaron lost the passion to play football?

Just as Matthew Stafford mentioned, Aaron Donald has fully embraced life beyond the sport and has no regrets. In May, the Rams icon, who last played in 2023, spoke up about his post-football mindset on the Panthers Insider Show on 93.7 The Fan.

“As far as playing football, I don’t miss it. I don’t even have the passion or excitement to want to play football. I will always love football, but once you lose the passion, it was time to walk away.”

For Donald, stepping away from the game felt natural because his heart was no longer in it. He found it “special” to be able to call the shots after working tirelessly for his explosive NFL career. In a nutshell, the 33-year-old is content with focusing on family, peace, and the life he has built. While Los Angeles would love to have its star defender back, McVay had expressed a different stance.

“I would almost feel disrespectful reaching out to him, just based on the principles and knowing him the way that I do,” McVay told the Los Angeles Times.

For now, Matthew Stafford can’t tell if Aaron’s NFL story is over or if he’ll return to sprinkle some more magic. But one thing is sure: the future Hall of Famer is leading his life on his own terms.