Already a Rams legend, Aaron Donald will suit up for his ninth NFL season Thursday against the Bills. But according to a report from Ian Rapoport, he came even closer to retirement than most realized.
In a story posted on NFL.com, Rapoport said Donald filed a letter with the Rams with the intent to retire that was supposed to be sent to the NFL. Contract negotiations had stalled after the Rams' Super Bowl win, and both Donald and the Rams were ready to move on. Per Rapoport, the Rams were already deciding how best to honor the possible best defensive tackle of all time.
The letter, however, never made it to the league office.
Instead, Donald continued to negotiate with the Rams about his new contract. The gulf between himself and the Rams isn't an unknown quantity. The seriousness of Donald's intent to retire was hardly in question, but according to Rapoport, the reason the letter wasn't filed was because Donald and his agent talked to the Rams on Zoom the next day. When negotiations picked up steam, the letter seemingly fell by the wayside.
Donald's rumored retirement came hours before Super Bowl 56 when NBC's Rodney Harrison floated the idea of the Pro Bowler hanging it up during the network's pregame coverage.
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The eight-time Pro Bowler and seven-year All-Pro ended up getting a raise of $40 million over three years, with two void years in 2025 and 2026. He is now making $31.66 million per year.
How much money is Aaron Donald's contract for?
The restructure of Donald's contract netted him a $40 million raise, up to $65 million over the course of the next two seasons. Donald has an opt-in for his third year that would give him an additional $30 million, bringing the total up to $95 million.
He not only becomes the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history with the "new" contract -- eclipsing T.J. Watt -- he is the first non-quarterback to pass $30 million (guaranteed) in NFL history.
His new average compensation is $10 million more per year than the next closest interior defensive lineman, which is Leonard Williams of the NY Giants.
Donald will look to make his presence felt early and often against Josh Allen and the Bills Thursday, as the Rams begin their Super Bowl defense. With that being said, it's clear he has nothing left to prove on the football field.
