Just before kickoff of Super Bowl LVI, rumors began to swirl that Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald would consider retirement if the Rams were able to win the championship.
Donald went out and dominated on the field, like he always does, as the Rams went on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to secure their first championship in the city.
After the game, Donald didn’t deny the rumors and said he would just like to enjoy the moment and celebrate with his team.
While there is some truth to the rumor that he was considering retirement, they mostly came from a private exchange with Rodney Harrison to push back against the idea that he would play at least another decade and Donald hoped it would remain private, according to Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated:
All the drama started when Donald met with NBC broadcasters during Super Bowl week. Before sitting down, he had an informal conversation with Rodney Harrison, one Donald calls “personal,” meaning between them. When the retired NFL safety joked that Donald might play 15 additional seasons, the defensive tackle responded honestly, answering for, he believed, an audience of one. “Honestly, you never know,” he responded. “This could be my last year.”
Harrison shared that sentiment on national television before the game, but Donald didn’t find out until afterward, when reporters asked him about it. “I wouldn’t expect [Harrison] to do something like that,” Donald says. “I wouldn’t want him to.” Notice what he didn’t say: that Harrison was wrong.
Now, the Rams are making progress on a contract extension with their star defensive tackle, mostly putting those retirement rumors to rest.
However, Donald said he would only return to the Rams if they are able to re-sign key free agents like Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller.
Could the Rams re-sign Beckham and Miller?
Although the Rams have a lot of work to do in regards to their tight cap, re-signing both players is a possibility.
The Rams reportedly have every intention to re-sign Beckham this offseason, with the hope that he will be ready to go in the second half of the 2022 NFL season.
Miller has also expressed a desire to return to the Rams next season, but he will have plenty of other options in free agency, including his old Denver Broncos team and the L.A. Chargers.
