Aaron Donald will return to NFL in 2022, signs most lucrative deal in history for non-QB

The Los Angeles Rams have managed to secure a new contract for star defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who will return for the 2022 NFL season. The remaining three years of Donald’s contract have been reworked to give him significantly more money — making him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Aaron Donald will return to the Rams

“The Rams have re-worked All-World DT Aaron Donald’s 3 remaining contract years to give him a massive $40M raise through 2024, making him the highest paid non-QB in NFL history at 31 years old. He gets $95M(!) through 2024,” detailed NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Donald has already proven himself as one of the best defensive players in NFL history in just eight years at the NFL level. An eight-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro nominee and last year’s Super Bowl champion — Donald had a major decision to make this offseason regarding his NFL future.

The prevailing belief was that Donald would return if the financial incentives were there, but the added pressure of wanting to repeat as NFL champions loomed overhead as the Rams and NFL fans waited for his decision. Now, the Rams seem to have found the right price point to make a return happen.

Immediately following their Super Bowl win, Donald was open to the idea of a return when he proudly claimed they could run it back at their championship parade.

“We built a super team,” Donald said. “We can bring the super team back. Why not run it back? We can be world champs again.”

Rumors began circulating before the Super Bowl even began that Donald could be contemplating retirement, when former NFL pro Rodney Harrison said on the pre-game show that he could retire after a win.

“He just talked about wanting to spend more time with his family,” Harrison said. “And he talked about his body, he said he worked really hard on his body year-round and he’s achy.”