Aaron Donald’s workout at the Rams’ facility on Wednesday gave the idea of a comeback real momentum, and defensive coordinator Chris Shula didn’t hide how he’d feel if the future Hall of Famer decided to play again.
“Obviously, I’d be really excited about that,” Shula said Wednesday about Donald potentially returning to the field for the first time since retiring in March 2024, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “You’re getting one of the best players of all time.
I’ve had a great history with him. I was here in ’17, coaching other positions with him.
I know what a great guy he is, what a hard worker he is, and what he would mean to this defense. But at the same time, we’re going to coach the guys who are here, and if he decides to come back, that’d be great.”
Donald was officially listed on the NFL’s “tryout” list after the session, a notable step for a player who already has a retirement on the books. Rams head coach Sean McVay added his own bit of humor on Wednesday, saying Donald completed the “best tryout we've ever had” and “could make the team.”
Shula and Donald go back a long way. The Rams drafted Donald in the first round in 2014, and Shula first joined the organization as a defensive assistant in 2017. That history is part of why the possibility clearly hits differently for Shula than it would for someone just arriving in the building.
He also admitted he’s thought about the idea of Donald lining up next to Myles Garrett.
“I think I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it a little bit,” Shula said. “You’re anticipating, but at the same time, we’re putting it in the core of our defense right now.
We’re building our defense step by step. If he decides to come, whenever that is, that’s not going to affect exactly how we’re doing it right now.”
That possible pairing is one of the biggest reasons Donald would even consider a return, with the chance to chase a second Super Bowl championship ring alongside Garrett. A Wednesday update suggested Donald could make a final decision about playing this coming season as soon as next week.
For now, the Rams are moving forward with the roster in front of them. But Shula’s comments made one thing clear: if Donald decides he’s not done yet, the welcome mat is already out.
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