He’s back.
And the return of defensive tackle Aaron Donald has been memorialized in a contract that replaces the $30 million salary on the one year that remained on his prior deal, when he retired after the 2023 season.
Per a source with knowledge of the contract, here are the details:
1. 2026 base salary: $10 million.
2. 2026 53-man roster bonus: $666,667 per game, with a maximum of 15 games.
3. 2026 playoff qualification incentive: $2.5 million, if he plays at least 15 percent of the regular-season defensive snaps.
4. 2026 wild-card incentive: $1.25 million, if active for the game (or if the Rams earn a bye).
5. 2026 divisional-round incentive: $1.25 million, if active for the game.
6. 2026 conference championship incentive: $2.5 million, if the team wins the game, if he participates in at least 20 percent of the defensive snaps in the NFC Championship, and if he participates in at least 15 percent of the regular-season snaps.
7. 2026 Super Bowl incentive: $2.5 million, if the team wins the game, if he participates in at least 20 percent of the defensive snaps in the Super Bowl, and if he participates in at least 15 percent of the regular-season snaps.
That’s a maximum of $30 million. But it ultimately hinges on getting to the Super Bowl and winning it.
Which is one of the big reasons why he’s coming back, after two years out of football.
The Rams have reduced their roster to 53 players in advance of the league’s 6 p.m. ET deadline on Sunday.
Of course, the club’s roster now includes defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who officially came out of retirement to play for Los Angeles in 2026 on Sunday afternoon.
To get down to 53 players, the Rams waived or released Nick Andersen, A.J. Arcuri, Alex Bachman, Austin Blake, Jack Bouwmeester, Wyatt Bowles, Dean Connors, Alex Cook, Devean Deal, Tru Edwards, Nyzier Fourqurean, Tomon Fox, Steven Gilmore, AZ Hamilton, Blake Hance, Bryce Henderson, Nikhai Hill-Green, Tanner Ingle, Alex Johnson, Rohan Jones, Tim Keean, Cam Lampkin, Jaxson Moi, Darrell Murchison, Elias Neal, Bill Norton, Darryl Peterson, Brennan Presley, Monty Rice, Tyler Scott, Nate Valcarcel, Dan Villari, Jordan Waters, and Payton Zdroik.
The Rams also agreed to trade tight end Mark Redman to the Packers earlier on Sunday.
Aaron Donald has made it official, coming out of retirement after two seasons off to play for the Rams in 2026.
Just after the news broke, Donald spoke with reporter Jordan Schultz of the Schultz Report to explain his decision.
“I’ve been working the last 12-13 weeks to train my body and get it to a point where I felt like I could still play the game at a high level and be durable,” Donald said. “I am now ready to come back to try and do something special with this group of guys.
“We back.”
Schultz adds that Donald will be back at the Rams’ facility later on Sunday to take part in meetings.
A three-time AP defensive player of the year, Donald registered 111.0 sacks, 176 tackles for loss, and 260 QB hits in his 10 seasons with the Rams. Now he’s back to play with Myles Garrett as the club tries to make it back to the Super Bowl, which will be played at SoFi Stadium in February.
Get ready, because No. 99 is back.
Aaron Donald has officially decided to come out of retirement, the Rams announced on Sunday.
According to multiple reports, Donald has agreed to a one-year deal worth $20 million that can escalate up to $30 million for 2026.
Donald, a three-time AP defensive player of the year, retired after the 2023 season and has spent the last two years out of football. When the Rams traded for Myles Garrett, buzz began to form that Donald could come out of retirement to play with him, forming an impressive duo along the L.A. defensive front. Donald took the month to work out and decide, and now he’s back.
Donald was a first-team All-Pro eight times and made the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 seasons with the Rams. The No. 13 overall pick of the 2014 draft, Donald has registered 111.0 sacks with 176 tackles for loss and 260 quarterback hits in his career.
Now 35, he will be a significant piece as the Rams will look to make it back to the Super Bowl, which will be played at their home field of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in February.
On Sunday, the league has placed two players on paid leave: Packers running back Josh Jacobs and Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper. Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold will join them soon.
We’re told there will be no further players placed on the Commissioner Exempt list today.
This means that neither Rams receiver Puka Nacua nor Rams tackle Alaric Jackson will be placed on paid leave, at least for now.
Nacua has been sued for biting a woman on New Year’s Eve. Reporting on the matter has included reference to a potential diversion program. That would trigger automatic review under the Personal Conduct Policy — and likely discipline.
Ditto for Jackson, who has previously served a two-game suspension under the Personal Conduct Policy. He was arrested for domestic battery, but he won’t face felony charges. A diversion program is on the table in lieu of misdemeanor charges.
