Aaron Donald doesn’t have to be Aaron Donald Anymore 

By Jason Burrell | South Bay Black Journal

I think everyone’s asking the wrong question.

Whether Aaron Donald can still play? 

That has become the focus for every report that has surfaced about the future Hall of Famer who is considering ending his retirement to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams.

I think the real question is: Aaron Donald, who is 35 years old and football, has a way of reminding even the greatest players that time is undefeated. 

Sean McVay and those close to the Rams, after listening to Donald, have another question. What if Aaron Donald doesn’t have to be Aaron Donald anymore?

For the past 10 seasons, offensive coordinators had to ask the question; Who’s going to stop number 99?  Coordinators have slid protections toward him, double-teamed him, even triple-teamed Donald while building an entire blocking scheme around keeping him out of the backfield. 

That burden may finally belong to someone else.

The Rams acquiring miles Garrett may have changed the entire equation for Donald if he decides to return.

Instead of asking Donald to dominate on every snap, he doesn’t have to. 

McVay could ask him to dominate only n moments that matter most.

I don’t believe Aaron Donald is going to play part-time because he’s not a part-time player. 

He and Kawhi Leonard don’t share the same mindset when it comes to load management. 25 to 35 meaningful snaps can sometimes have a greater impact than 60 ordinary ones.

When asked about the possibility of returning, Aaron Donald admitted the opportunity has captured his attention. “I’m for sure flirting with the idea, ” said Donald. ” hell of an opportunity with the Super Bowl at SoFi this year.” “ If I can find the fire, it’s a possibility.” 

Donald isn’t searching for statistics, rewards, or accolades. He has already earned three NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards, a Super Bowl championship and a place in Canton, Ohio, whenever he becomes eligible. 

Sean McVay echoes his sentiments, “If Aaron decides he wants to dust his cleats off at the age of 35, I’ll bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip.”

Notice what McVay didn’t say. 

He didn’t promise that Aaron Donald, who played nearly every snap during his prime. 

He didn’t suggest Donald would return to carrying the defense. 

Instead, he simply acknowledged that Donald can still play at a high level! 

Those are two very different expectations.

NFL history suggests McVay may be on to something.

For example, when Rob Gronkowski unretired to join Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers didn’t ask him to become the tight end that once dominated the NFL. They asked him to make winning plays when championships were on the line.

He did exactly that, helping Tom Brady win his first Super Bowl title outside of New England.

Tom Brad, on the other hand, returned after retirement because his competitive fire still burned. Although they didn’t win another championship, it reinforced a similar truth shared by many athletes: great players rarely come back because they missed the spotlight; they come back because they miss competing.

That may ultimately become Aaron Donald’s greatest advantage.

The Rams no longer need him to be Superman; they simply need him to be dominant in key moments.

Former Rams offensive tackle and good friend of Aaron Donald, Andrew Whitworth, seemed to recognize that immediately when asked whether he would return at the age of 35 to play alongside Miles Garrett. He kept it short and sweet, saying, “No question.”

That’s because players understood what fans sometimes overlook.

Opportunities like this don’t come around often. Aaron Donald retired on his own terms, going out on top. 

He wasn’t forced out by injuries or declining production. 

He walked away as one of the NFL’s most dominant players.

If he returns, he won’t be trying to reclaim his past.

He’ll be chasing another opportunity to add to his story, and perhaps that’s the story the rest of the NFL world is missing.

Aaron Donald doesn’t have to be Aaron Donald anymore.

He might just be the final piece to the Rams’ championship puzzle.