Seattle Seahawks fans are likely not surprised by Aaron Donald returning to the Los Angeles Rams. LA has hinted that it could happen for months, and on Sunday, it reportedly became official. Donald will be joining a Rams defensive front that also includes offseason acquisition Myles Garrett.
Donald has been retired for two years, but before that was one of the best defensive linemen in the history of the league. He is now 35 years old, but likely in terrific shape. The amount of time he needs to get in football shape is probably not much. Expect Donald to be a force again quickly.
The Rams are a scary team, and as much as one might want to argue otherwise, that is the case. Los Angeles was already a good team and the second-best team in the NFL last year. They only trailed the Seahawks, of course; the team that would win the Super Bowl.
Seattle Seahawks will face Aaron Donald with the Los Angeles Rams in 2026
With all the moves made by LA this offseason and preseason, they are rightfully the betting favorites to win the championship this coming season. Thinking another team is better on paper is foolish, and not even Seattle's roster matches up with the Rams'. Again, at least not on paper.
But let's be clear about one other thing: As good as Los Angeles might be in 2026, they have allowed themselves to get old by going all-in on 2026. Maybe they do win the Super Bowl, though assuming they will is a mistake. Lots of things -- injuries, underperformance -- can happen, and two-thirds of the NFL could win the title. That includes the Seahawks repeating as champs.
Donald, along with Garrett and the other talent Los Angeles already has on the Rams' roster, is imposing. Garrett, Donald, and quarterback Matthew Stafford are also all past 30 years old. If Los Angeles doesn't win another title in the next couple of seasons, it might not win another for many years to come.
Meanwhile, Seattle and general manager John Schneider have built a roster with a lot of young players whose best years could still be in the future. As fantastic as wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was in 2025, he is still just 24 years old. When he was born, Aaron Donald was close to his teenage years.
Winning in the NFL isn't a one- or two-year approach for an organization. At least, it shouldn't be. Schneider learned a lot from what the Seahawks did after their first title in the 2013 season. The team wasn't aggressive in having sustained excellence, and now that is the current approach. The Rams have Aaron Donald back, but LA might not come anywhere close to a title if it doesn't win soon.
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