Alright, this is NOT a drill: Aaron Donald, the absolute monster, is officially out of retirement! He’s coming back to play defensive tackle for the Rams, lining up right next to edge rusher Myles Garrett. We’re talking about two of the league’s most dominant forces, guys who have collectively won the Associated Press and Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year awards in five of the last nine seasons since 2017. Seriously, let that sink in. This isn’t just a big signing, it’s a seismic shift, and the league is gonna feel it.
This Tandem Is Totally Unprecedented (Mostly!)
Look, having two AP DPOYs on the same team isn’t totally unprecedented, history shows us that. But get this: Garrett is the *reigning* DPOY, and he’s joining the *reigning* MVP QB, Matthew Stafford, on the Rams roster for 2026. That specific combo? Yeah, that’s never happened before in NFL history. It’s wild! The AP first started handing out DPOY awards in 1971. The very first one went to Alan Page of the Vikings, who was a Hall of Fame defensive tackle. Page made four Super Bowls, but his Vikings lost every single one of them. Talk about a tough break!
History Says These Guys Are Bringing Home a Ring
But then you look at “Mean” Joe Greene, the Steelers defensive tackle who snagged the DPOY in 1972. That dude helped Pittsburgh win four rings! Greene actually won the award twice, and he played alongside two other DPOY winners: cornerback Mel Blount (’75) and linebacker Jack Lambert (’76). “The Steel Curtain” defenses, with Greene, Blount, and Lambert all winning four Super Bowls, set the bar ridiculously high for teams with multiple DPOYs. We’ve seen other teams hit that mark too. Deion Sanders played one mind-blowing season for the 49ers in ’94, winning DPOY with three pick-sixes. He played with Dana Stubblefield, a stout defensive tackle who’d win DPOY himself in ’97. Guess what? Sanders and Stubblefield won Super Bowl 29 together that year. The Buccaneers had Warren Sapp at defensive tackle and Derrick Brooks at outside linebacker from ’95 to ’03, and those two HOFers were part of the defense that won Super Bowl 37. And don’t forget the Ravens! Ray Lewis was the man when they won Super Bowl 35, and then for Super Bowl 47, an older Lewis was still there, but he was joined by the incredible safety play of Ed Reed and edge rushing from Terrell Suggs. They won again! That’s three out of four teams winning Super Bowls when DPOY winners team up, with the Ravens even matching the Steelers with three DPOYs at the same time. The only hiccup? Bryce Paup and Bruce Smith on the Bills from ’95-’97. Smith had already lost four SBs before Paup won DPOY in ’95, and Smith got his second award in ’96. But in three seasons together, they never even made it to the AFC Championship game and missed the playoffs once. Ouch.
So, what does this all mean for the Rams? History’s shouting at us. When you bring in two DPOY-level talents like Donald and Garrett, especially with their track record, you’re not just adding players; you’re building a dynasty. This Rams defense, with this new tandem, is going to be must-watch football from day one. Get ready for some serious D-line havoc!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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