The NFC West just got a whole lot tougher, because after two seasons away, defensive lineman Aaron Donald is officially unretired and back with the Los Angeles Rams for 2026. This isn’t just some solid veteran returning either; we’re talking about a guy widely considered one of the greatest football players in the sport’s history, and his comeback has already sparked a wild reaction from San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
The “Most Celebrated Offseason Ever” Just Got Flipped Upside Down
Let’s flash back. Remember when Donald first hung up his cleats? Shanahan certainly does. He told reporters in Australia this week that when the news broke, he wasn’t even checking alerts. Instead, he heard “people yelling down the hallway, cheering.” He thought, “what the heck is going on?” before seeing it on his phone. Shanahan described that moment as “probably the most we’ve celebrated in the offseason ever.” Can you even imagine that kind of locker room eruption over a rival’s retirement? That tells you everything about the kind of threat Donald is. With 154 games under his belt, 543 tackles, a mind-blowing 260 quarterback hits, and 111 sacks, plus 10 Pro Bowls, eight All-Pro teams, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and a Super Bowl ring, his departure was a seismic shift in the league.
Donald Is Back, And The 49ers’ Line Is In Trouble
Fast forward to now, and Shanahan says it was “the exact opposite this year” when Donald decided to unretire. He wasn’t “crushed on the Sunday that he decided” because he had “prepared for that the right way” a month prior, knowing it was coming. His take now? “It is what it is. He’s a hell of a player, and we’ll have our work cut out for him.” Talk about a complete 180! And Shanahan’s concern is definitely justified. Donald, even at 35 years old, appears to be in incredible shape and doesn’t seem like the kind of player who just loses his ability. The Rams aren’t just bringing back Donald, either; they’ve loaded up their defensive front with Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner ready to dominate the middle, while newcomer Myles Garrett attacks the edge opposite Byron Young. This is a nightmare scenario for opposing offensive lines.
And for the 49ers? Their latest depth chart has Connor Colby still at left guard. Shanahan admitted Colby’s performance “didn’t go well at all in 2025 or at any point during training camp this year.” Yikes. Facing Aaron Donald and that revamped Rams D-line, with Colby still a question mark? That’s a huge problem. This week’s game against San Francisco will likely be Donald’s return to action, and it’s going to be a brutal test right out of the gate. All eyes will be on that interior line battle.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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