The idea of Aaron Donald returning for another shot at a Super Bowl has Rams\u2019 fans daydreaming about another parade next February and trying to figure out if they\u2019d be better off camping out on Jefferson Boulevard or Figueroa Street for the best views. And just like daydreaming after buying a lottery ticket, you realize that while it\u2019s entirely possible your number comes up, it\u2019s probably not going to happen. Why won\u2019t Donald return? Several reasons come to mind.<\/p>\n
The Cost<\/p>\n
The Rams currently have approximately $19 million in unused cap space. However, they still have required expenses for signing their rookie draft class, reserving operational funds for in-season practice squad elevations, and potential incentives for quarterback Matthew Stafford<\/a>. They also have to keep in mind that they may need to spend some money on a left tackle.<\/p>\n At the very least, Donald would be looking for a top 10 defensive end contract to come back for the year, or $20 million. Sure, the Rams could move some money around by restructuring, but they\u2019d simply be deferring the money owed. Just like loading up your credit card, payment is due at some point, and most advisors will tell you, this isn\u2019t a wise thing to do on a luxury purchase.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n With the number of extensions upcoming, it really wouldn\u2019t be smart to push payroll down the road unless it\u2019s absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n Aaron Donald\u2019s Desire<\/p>\n One month ago, Donald stated on Cam Heyward\u2019s podcast <\/a>that he had \u00a0\u201cno urge to play football.\u201d The desire to play must be overwhelming for a player to put themselves through the rigors of a football season. In the interview, Heyward asks him how he feels, and Donald says he has no more aches and pains when he wakes up and can finally walk normally, and they both laugh about it. They share that experience. Playing football hurts.<\/p>\n In 2024, right after announcing his retirement, Aaron was interviewed by his wife Erica<\/a>, where he said he\u2019s leaving at peace and on his own terms. He feels like he could still play at a high level, but reiterated that his passion for the game isn\u2019t there anymore.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m complete. I\u2019m full,\u201d Donald said during the interview with his wife Erica, which was captured by the Rams inside his childhood home in Pittsburgh last week and went more than an hour. \u201cI think the passion to play the game is no longer there for me. I will always love football, but to think about going through another camp and another 17-(game) season, I just don\u2019t got the urge to want to push myself through that no more. I\u2019m just, I\u2019m burnt out. The best way to say it is I\u2019m full, I\u2019m complete. I\u2019m satisfied with what I was able to do in 10 years. I think it\u2019s time for me at 32 years old to retire from football and jump into the next step of my career, my life. Now it\u2019s time to move on.\u201d<\/p>\n Donald said the decision was one where \u201cyou just know,\u201d with no second-guessing.<\/p>\n His Health<\/p>\n A couple of days ago, I asked people<\/a>, \u201cWhat\u2019s your favorite football movie\u201d? I got a lot of responses, thank you for that, but one very highly rated movie was not mentioned.<\/p>\n By all accounts, Erica Donald is a very smart woman. She will certainly have heard of CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This degenerative brain disease is linked to repetitive head trauma and can cause conditions like dementia, depression, and severe mood changes. It can only be diagnosed in autopsies.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n A landmark study from the Boston University CTE Center<\/a> found evidence of CTE in 345 of 376 (nearly 92%) examined brains of former NFL players. Research shows that every additional year of playing football increases the odds of a CTE diagnosis by 15%. Every additional 1,000 hits to the head increases the odds by 21%<\/a>, according to a study published by the NIH.<\/p>\n