Aaron Donald Weighs NFL Return as McVay Confirms He's 'Through His Process'
Sean McVay confirms Aaron Donald is 'thinking about' a comeback. Here's what the Rams coach said and what a return could mean for the NFL in 2026.
In brief
Aaron Donald has not ruled out a return to the NFL. Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed publicly that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is 'thinking about' a comeback but remains in the middle of his decision-making process. No timeline has been set, and Donald has not committed to returning to the field.
⚡ KEY TAKEAWAYS
Sean McVay says Aaron Donald is actively considering an NFL return but has not decided.
McVay described Donald as still going 'through his process' — signaling no imminent announcement.
Donald retired following the 2023 NFL season after 11 years with the Rams, owning the all-time sack record for interior defensive linemen at 111.5.
A potential return would send shockwaves through the NFC West and reshape Los Angeles's defensive identity.
DC-area football fans — with the Washington Commanders riding a momentum wave of their own — are watching closely as the NFC power balance shifts.
What Sean McVay Actually Said About Aaron Donald
McVay's comments, reported by NFL.com, were deliberate but telling. The Rams head coach did not dismiss the possibility of Donald returning — he framed it as an open question that Donald himself is wrestling with. "He's thinking about it," McVay said, adding that the defensive legend is still "going through his process."
That language matters. In NFL front-office speak, "going through his process" signals that conversations are happening, conditions are being weighed, and no bridge has been burned. It is meaningfully different from a coach saying a retired player has moved on for good.
For context, Donald — who retired in March 2024 after the Rams were eliminated in the playoffs — finished his career as the most dominant interior pass rusher in league history. His 111.5 career sacks from the defensive tackle position shattered the previous record and left analysts at outlets like ESPN running out of superlatives before he even cleaned out his locker.
Why a Donald Return Would Reshape the NFC in 2026
The NFL in 2026 looks different than the league Donald left. The Rams have retooled their roster, and McVay — who signed a long-term extension — is building toward another Super Bowl run. Adding Donald back to a defensive line that already features young pass rushers would give Los Angeles a weapon no offensive coordinator has a clean answer for.
Historically, high-profile unretirements have worked. Pro Football Reference shows that players who retire before age 33 and return within two seasons often perform at near-peak levels — Donald, who turns 32 in 2026, fits that profile physically. His conditioning during retirement, by all accounts, has remained elite.
The NFC West itself is in flux. The San Francisco 49ers are navigating quarterback uncertainty, the Seattle Seahawks are in a rebuild, and the Arizona Cardinals remain a few years away from true contention. A Donald return to Los Angeles would immediately reinstall the Rams as the division's alpha — a point not lost on NFL power-rankers or Vegas oddsmakers.
For those tracking the full picture of NFL power dynamics heading into the 2026 season, our DC Power Players Index examines how sports figures with Washington-area ties are shaping national conversations.
Washington football fans have spent the past two seasons recalibrating their expectations — and their ambitions. The Washington Commanders, resurgent under their current front office and coaching staff, are legitimate NFC contenders for the first time in years. A strengthened Rams roster, anchored by a returning Donald, would raise the ceiling every NFC playoff contender needs to clear.
Beyond the competitive calculus, the Donald story resonates in a city that follows power and legacy obsessively. DC — where careers are built, abandoned, and sometimes reclaimed — understands the weight of a figure deciding whether he has more to give. FedEx Field crowds have seen that tension play out on the political stage for decades. Watching it unfold on a football field feels familiar.
The Commanders' front office will be monitoring McVay's press conferences as closely as any team in the league. Washington is scheduled to face NFC West opponents in its 2026 rotation, and a Donald-led Rams defense changes the preparation calculus entirely. Follow our politics and power coverage and our DC Power Index for the broader context of how DC tracks national influence — on and off the field.
Aaron Donald's Legacy and the Stakes of Coming Back
Retirement decisions for generational athletes are never simple, and Donald's is no exception. He won a Super Bowl LVI championship with the Rams in February 2022, securing his legacy in a way few defenders ever have. He was named to nine Pro Bowls, won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and was the unanimous choice as the greatest interior defender of his generation before his final snap.
The risk of returning is real. A diminished Donald — even slightly — rewrites part of how history remembers him. But McVay's framing suggests those around Donald believe the physical tools remain. According to reporting tracked by The Washington Post's NFL desk, Donald has stayed in rigorous shape since stepping away, a detail that has fueled speculation inside league circles for months.
The bottom line on legacy: Donald doesn't need another season to validate his Hall of Fame case. But if he believes he can still play at an All-Pro level, the competitive pull — especially with a Rams team McVay has rebuilt around another championship window — may prove impossible to resist.
Sports analysts tracking career-arc decisions of this magnitude should also consult the WDCM Political Influence Rankings framework, which applies power-mapping logic to figures — athletic and political alike — navigating high-stakes public decisions.
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FAQ: Aaron Donald's Potential NFL Return
Q: Has Aaron Donald officially decided to return to the NFL? No. As of 2026, Aaron Donald has not announced a return. Rams coach Sean McVay confirmed Donald is "thinking about" a comeback but is still "going through his process." No decision has been made public.
Q: When did Aaron Donald retire from the NFL? Aaron Donald announced his retirement in March 2024 following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL season, ending an 11-year career with the Los Angeles Rams.
Q: What are Aaron Donald's career stats? Donald finished with 111.5 career sacks — the most ever recorded by an interior defensive lineman — along with nine Pro Bowl selections and three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Q: Would Aaron Donald return to the Los Angeles Rams? Based on McVay's comments, any return would almost certainly be with the Rams. No reports suggest Donald is in contact with other franchises.
Q: How would Aaron Donald's return affect the Washington Commanders? The Commanders face NFC West opponents during their 2026 schedule rotation. A Donald return would strengthen a Rams team already viewed as an NFC contender, raising the difficulty of any potential postseason path Washington might share.
Q: What does 'going through his process' mean in NFL context? When a coach says a retired player is "going through his process," it typically signals active deliberation — the player has not closed the door, conversations are ongoing, and conditions (physical readiness, motivation, contract terms) are being evaluated.
The bottom line: Aaron Donald has not walked away from the idea of playing football again. Sean McVay's public confirmation that his franchise cornerstone is actively weighing a return keeps the story — and the Rams' 2026 outlook — very much alive. For Washington football fans and NFL watchers across the DMV, the next development to monitor is any statement from Donald's camp about a final decision timeline. When the most dominant defensive tackle of his generation starts "thinking about" coming back, the entire league pays attention.
Reporting drawn from: NFL.com. Washington DC Magazine provides original analysis, DC-specific context, and editorial perspective beyond the source material.This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by WDCM editorial staff. Washington DC Magazine is committed to accuracy, transparency, and editorial integrity. If you believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact editor@washingtondcmagazine.com.
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CAN I KICK IT? screens New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument, on Aug. 22. (Courtesy SHAOLIN JAZZ)
The live-cinema series CAN I KICK IT? returns to the National Mall this month with what its producers are calling the "Gangsters on the Mall" chapter of their free outdoor summer run. On Saturday, August 22, the SHAOLIN JAZZ production brings the 1991 crime classic New Jack City to the Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument for a night of film, music, and community under the DC summer sky.
What sets the event apart is the sound. As the film plays, DJ 2-Tone Jones builds an original score in real time, reimagining one of the most iconic crime movies of the ’90s through hip-hop, soul, funk, and more. It is less a movie screening than a live performance built around the film.
The details:
Film: New Jack City (1991), with a live soundtrack by DJ 2-Tone Jones
When: Saturday, August 22 — seating opens at 7:30 p.m. (bring lawn chairs and blankets); film begins at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument, Independence Ave SW & 15th St NW
A parking note from the organizers: expect road closures and restricted parking east of 14th Street NW due to a separate race event in the District. Roads west of 14th Street NW will be accessible and available for parking.
New Jack City is the second of three screenings in this year’s free CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series, which opened with Black Panther at Skyland Town Center and concludes with Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial on September 5. Produced by the Washington, DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, the series has presented more than 150 live cinematic experiences at venues across the country, from Lincoln Center to SXSW.
"I wanted to be able to tell good stories with substance and remove the ‘ego’ out of the art," said Andrew Huang during a recent interview. Now, he’s building his career at the intersection of discipline, creativity and innovation.
Andrew Huang, founder of New Place Studios. (Courtesy photo)
As a Chinese American, Huang was reared with a deep respect for hard work, consistency and excellence. He describes his childhood as "not so affluent" and later attended college to hone his passion for videography. "In college I tried to do something I loved, which was video, but along the way I knew that I had to find a job. And so I thought, ‘what was the low hanging fruit to get to that stable 9 to 5 job?,’" he stated.
Later in life, Huang found himself working for corporations where his creativity was often limited, eventually leading to burnout. "I worked in a corporation for a long time and there were a lot of missing pieces. I wanted to fill in gaps missing in corporate video production," said Huang.
He later described how his upbringing and a mindset of "survival" led him toward a corporate career. However, his desire for balance and authentic storytelling ultimately pushed him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
"I founded a new place where you can create video and film with ‘substance and style,’" said Huang. His desire for work-life balance and passion for storytelling naturally evolved into a small business based in Virginia. With the launch of New Place Studios, the entrepreneur quickly found himself reconnecting with the values that would become the foundation of everything he creates behind the camera.
Huang said being a business owner has allowed him to first embrace himself. While others may see video as simply capturing moments, he sees it as a way to preserve stories that inspire, connect and leave a lasting imprint.
By combining cinematic visuals with cutting-edge production techniques and a keen understanding of branding, Huang helps organizations and individuals communicate their vision with purpose. He said understanding a client’s "why" serves as the compass for delivering the services they need.
One benefit of working with a small business, he said, is that clients get to see the production process unfold through a micro lens while working with the same faces throughout the entire project. "The work feels personal," said Huang.
Huang does not regret leaving behind the flash-over-substance mentality and corporate hustle culture. That does not mean the Asian American entrepreneur has been without challenges in the industry. "It’s relatively hard to find other Asian American creatives or people who would want to work with me in the DMV," said Huang.
He identifies the industry culture in which everyone is trying to blend in, creatives may fear displaying their Asian identity and some feel pressure to adopt an American corporate persona. He also points to what he describes as a level of gatekeeping within the industry. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 statistics, Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses and employ 5.2 million people in the United States.
After tapping into organizations such as SCORE, which offers free small business mentorship, New Place Studios has become a trusted creative partner throughout the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia). The company produces a range of creative services, including commercials, corporate branding, documentaries, film, 2D animation, motion graphics and photography.
For Huang, entrepreneurship has become more than a departure from corporate life. It has given him the freedom to create with intention, build meaningful connections and tell stories that go beyond the surface.
The 2026 CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
For three Saturdays this summer, some of Washington’s most familiar public spaces will do something they rarely do after dark: fill up with blankets, lawn chairs, and the sound of a movie being scored live, in real time. CAN I KICK IT?, the traveling “live cinema” series produced by the DC-based multimedia arts company SHAOLIN JAZZ, is bringing a free outdoor run to the city — pairing three era-defining films with an original soundtrack performed on the spot by DJ 2-Tone Jones.
The premise is what sets it apart from a normal screening in the park. Rather than simply pressing play, 2-Tone Jones builds a score as the film unfolds, pulling from hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and sounds from around the world. The result, the organizers say, is less a movie night than a one-time performance — the same film you know, wired to a soundtrack you have never heard and will not hear again. Guest DJs warm up the crowd starting at 7:30 PM before each 8:30 PM screening.
The 2026 outdoor schedule
All three events are free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 8 — Black Panther at Skyland Town Center. A pop-up marketplace and community activities kick off the evening; guest DJs at 7:30 PM, film at 8:30 PM. Marvel’s superhero epic gets a one-night-only live score in Southeast DC.
Saturday, August 22 — New Jack City at the Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument. Seating begins at 7:30 PM; the film starts at 8:30 PM. The 1991 crime drama plays out at the foot of one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks.
Saturday, September 5 — Scarface at the Lincoln Memorial. Seating at 7:30 PM; film at 8:30 PM. The series closes with Brian De Palma’s crime saga against the backdrop of the Memorial, scored live from start to finish.
First up: Black Panther at Skyland Town Center on August 8. Poster courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ.
A DC company with a national footprint
SHAOLIN JAZZ describes itself as a Washington-based arts company working at the intersection of music, film, art, and culture, and CAN I KICK IT? is its signature production. According to the organizers, the series has staged more than 150 live cinematic experiences around the country — at performing arts centers, museums, festivals, and cultural institutions including Lincoln Center in New York, SXSW, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Republic Square in Austin, the Tacoma Armory, and The Cary Theater.
“CAN I KICK IT? has always been about creating a shared experience,” said Gerald Watson, co-founder of SHAOLIN JAZZ. “When you combine iconic films with live music in public spaces, something special happens. People aren’t just watching a movie — they’re experiencing it together. That’s what makes these nights so memorable.”
Cinema as a community event
The DC run lands as cities across the country look for new ways to activate public space through arts and culture — and this series is a straightforward pitch for how to do it: take a landmark everyone already knows, add a film everyone has an opinion about, and let a live soundtrack turn the evening into something neighbors experience shoulder to shoulder. Families, film buffs, and music fans are all invited, and admission won’t cost a thing.
The CAN I KICK IT? outdoor series runs August 8, August 22, and September 5. All events are free; check SHAOLIN JAZZ (shaolinjazz.com) for the latest details and any weather updates before heading out.
