Will Aaron Donald Come Out of Retirement? Updated Odds After Myles Garrett Trade

Aaron Donald comeback rumors are heating up after the Rams traded for Myles Garrett
Donald told Pat McAfee the move “for sure got me thinking” about coming out of retirement
See the latest Aaron Donald unretiring odds below, plus my favorite bet to make in this market

The Aaron Donald comeback rumors are real, and the Los Angeles Rams have one trade to thank for it. LA acquired two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns on Monday, and within hours, the entire NFL wondered whether Donald might come out of retirement to pair with him.

Donald is fueling the speculation himself. He told ESPN’s Pat McAfee the Garrett trade ‘for sure got me thinking,’ dropped an Instagram workout clip captioned #ready, and Sean McVay all but invited him back at Garrett’s introductory press conference.

Keep reading for the latest Aaron Donald unretiring odds and my favorite bet to make in this market.

Aaron Donald Comeback Odds: Will He Come Out of Retirement?

Yes contracts are trading at 78 cents on Kalshi, with No sitting at 74. The implied probability of Donald playing in a 2026-27 game is sitting at 47%. This market opened the week at 29 cents on Yes.

The most recent move has gone Yes (up 9 points), but No at 74 cents is still the side worth a look if you think this rumor cycle is overdone.

Odds updated live on Kalshi prediction markets. Check out the best prediction markets for NFL futures.

Why Aaron Donald Would Unretire to Join Myles Garrett

This was always about the right opportunity. Donald spent the back half of his career staring down double and triple teams on every snap, often with little help beside him. Pairing with a 30-year-old Garrett, who just put up a 23-sack season, would give Donald something he hasn’t had in years: a co-star who demands attention.

The roster mechanics are easy, too. Donald is on the Rams’ reserve/retired list, so LA doesn’t owe anybody anything to bring him back. He also never lost a step physically, finishing his final season in 2023 with 8 sacks, 53 pressures, and First-Team All-Pro honors. He didn’t walk away because he couldn’t play. He walked away because he was done.

Aaron Donald Career Stats by Season

Season	GP	Sacks
2014	16	9.0
2015	16	11.0
2016	16	8.0
2017	14	11.0
2018	16	20.5
2019	16	12.5
2020	16	13.5
2021	17	12.5
2022	11	5.0
2023	16	8.0
Career	174	111.5

The resume speaks for itself: 3x DPOY (the only player to ever win it three years in a row), 8x First-Team All-Pro, and a 20.5 sack season in 2018 that’s still the most ever by an interior lineman. He’s the greatest DT in NFL history, and he’s only two years removed from his last snap.

The Rams also jumped into the top tier of Super Bowl odds contenders after the Garrett trade, sitting at +600. If Donald wants one more shot at a ring before he’s done, the path doesn’t get clearer than this.

Best Bet: Aaron Donald Stays Retired

Pick: Aaron Donald NO (74¢ at Kalshi)

I love the storyline. I just don’t think it actually happens, and I’m willing to pay up on the No side to back that view.

Donald getting “thinking” about a comeback in a McAfee text is a long way from a 35-year-old defensive tackle actually putting the pads back on after two years off. The workout video and Instagram captions are content, not commitment. We’ve seen plenty of retired stars flirt with returns and never follow through.

Pat McAfee texted Aaron Donald to find out if a comeback is possible after the Myles Garrett trade.

Donald's reply: "It for sure got me thinking." pic.twitter.com/KDlLVyD0Mc
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) June 2, 2026

His own words also work against the Yes side. On the “Not Just Football” podcast a month ago, Donald said he had “no urge to play football.” That was two weeks before the Garrett trade, and it’s about as direct as it gets.

The piece nobody is pricing in is the Hall of Fame timing. Donald is a first-ballot lock for Canton in 2029. Play one snap in 2026-27 and the clock resets, pushing his enshrinement to 2031. For a guy who’s been so deliberate about how he’s exited the game, that’s not a small thing to give up.

Take the No at 74 cents and wait for an actual report from Schefter or Rapoport before going anywhere near the Yes side. Right now, it’s all vibes, and vibes don’t cash tickets.