Aaron Donald wants to win another Super Bowl.
He’s also, apparently, willing to pass on that if he’s not going to be paid what he deserves.
The unequivocal top defensive player in football, Donald is signed through the 2024 season – however there are multiple factors suggesting he could retire this summer. For one, there is no guaranteed money left on his deal, making it easy to just walk away.
He also had only planned to play in the NFL for eight years, which last season was year No. 8, and put retirement on the table in comments to Rodney Harrison prior to the Super Bowl.
Donald’s camp and the Rams currently are in contract negotiations, which he believes "probably" will work out. However, judging by comments made on the "I Am Athlete" podcast, it sounds like his return to Los Angeles in 2022 is predicated on that new deal getting done.
"It ain't about the money, it's a business at the end of the day. That's what you've got to see. For me, it's about winning. I don't want to play football if I can't win anyway,” Donald said. “if I got a real opportunity to win another Super Bowl, then it makes sense to play. But again, it's still a business. We've got to handle the business side of things, and if that wasn't to get handled then, you know, it is what it is type of situation -- I'll be fine regardless. ...
"Winning a Super Bowl, you get a little addicted to it. I want to feel that again. I ain't going to lie, that experience is like none other. If I was to play, it's just to win another Super Bowl, but at the end of the day, it's still a business and it got to make sense to me and my family. … "I was blessed to play this game, to make the money I made, the accomplishments I made in eight years is -- I'm complete. If I can win another one, that's great. But if not, I'm at peace,"
Donald, who recently turned 31, said he won’t walk away mad if a deal is not reached with the Rams, suggesting he truly is at peace with retiring.
Now, how much of this is posturing to push a new contract through isn’t entirely clear. Few are as candid as Donald has been about possibly retiring, but he’s also the greatest, most accomplished player at his position right now, so no one – perhaps in the entire NFL – has as much negotiating leverage as he does.
The Rams on paper have one of the best defenses heading into this season, but that would change in a big way if Donald actually does retire.
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