Aaron Donald’s Return to the NFL

Aaron Donald is stepping back onto the field, rejoining the Los Angeles Rams after a brief retirement. He’s not the first NFL player to shake off the dust of retirement and don the shoulder pads again.

Donald now finds himself in a company of athletes who’ve returned to their sport after a hiatus. The question is, where will he stand among those notable figures like Michael Jordan, Mario Lemieux, Magic Johnson, and Michael Schumacher? Time will tell on that one.

Before Donald hits the field again, it’s interesting to ponder other NFL players who have made similar comebacks after taking a break from the game.

Below is a list ranking 11 players who returned to the NFL after significant absences due to retirement. Notably, we’re not including the more momentary retirements of players like Tom Brady or Brett Favre, nor those who stepped away for legal reasons like Michael Vick.

First up is Jason Witten, who had a 15-year tenure as a tight end with the Dallas Cowboys, racking up 11 Pro Bowl selections and two First-Team All-Pro nods. After retiring following the 2017 season, he transitioned to a role at ESPN to commentate on Monday Night Football in 2018. However, feedback on his commentary was, let’s say, mixed, prompting him to return to the field. In the 2019 season, he started all 16 games, catching 63 passes for 529 yards and four touchdowns. His final NFL season was spent with the Raiders in Las Vegas, where he started seven games and caught 13 passes for 69 yards, scoring two more touchdowns.

Now, let’s think about the 2025 NFL season—it had its fair share of surprises, for sure. Philip Rivers retired back in 2020 and was even named a semifinalist for the 2026 Hall of Fame Class last November. That’s when Daniel Jones, the Colts’ starting quarterback, went down for the season with an Achilles tear. With the Colts at 8-5 and fighting for a playoff spot, coach Shane Steichen, who had worked with Rivers back in their Chargers days, reached out to see if he’d come back and help the team out.

So, convincing the 44-year-old high school coach to come back was the first hurdle. Rivers ended up making three starts, throwing for 544 yards and four touchdowns. However, the Colts ultimately missed the playoffs.

But he wasn’t the only quarterback making waves in his mid-40s. Steve DeBerg, who initially retired in 1993 after 18 seasons across various teams including the 49ers and the Broncos, returned in 1998 when former coach Dan Reeves called him up. The Atlanta Falcons were missing some players and needed help behind their starter, Chris Chandler, as their intended backup, Mark Rypien, stepped back due to personal matters. With the familiarity of the offensive system, DeBerg made the roster, starting one game and appearing in eight others. The Falcons even made it to Super Bowl XXXIII, although they lost to the Broncos—a bit ironic, don’t you think?

Reggie White took his own hiatus after the 1998 season, having been a dominant force in the league, selected for 13 consecutive Pro Bowls. He was convinced to return in 2000 by the Panthers, starting all 16 games and getting 5.5 sacks in the process.

Eric Weddle, drafted by the Chargers in 2007, spent nine years with them before moving to the Ravens. He retired in 2019 but was coaxed back into action by the Rams for the 2021 playoffs when injuries hit their secondary. He played in all four playoff games, even managing to tear a pectoral muscle during the Super Bowl but stayed on to help his team clinch a 23-20 victory against the Bengals—his lone Super Bowl appearance.

Marshawn Lynch is another interesting case. He retired on Super Bowl Sunday in 2016, only to come back and play for his hometown Raiders a year later after being traded from the Seahawks. His second stint ended again due to injuries, yet he had a brief return to the Seahawks in 2019, stepping in during the playoffs due to injuries on the roster and making a decent impact.

Turning back the clock a bit, let’s chat about Bronko Nagurski, an icon of the game’s early days. Nagurski left professional football after the 1937 season but returned during World War II to help the Chicago Bears when they were short on players. He contributed to their success, scoring a touchdown in the NFL Championship Game.

Then there’s Ricky Williams, who initially stepped back from the Dolphins in 2004 to focus on studying holistic medicine. He came back the following year, faced an obstacle with a drug suspension, and had a tumultuous return journey in the NFL but made memorable comebacks as well.

Lastly, take Deion Sanders—who retired after a single season with the Redskins and later made attempts to come back with various teams, finally signing with the Ravens in 2004 where he had a notable performance, further marking his legacy.

Rob Gronkowski is another significant name in this dialogue. After a stellar nine-year run with the Patriots, he retired after the 2018 season, citing the impact of the sport on his health. However, a year later he reunited with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay and had another successful run including a fantastic Super Bowl performance.

And we wrap up with Randall Cunningham. He started his journey with the Eagles, faced several injuries, and ultimately stepped away, only to be pulled back into the game by the Vikings, where he found success again.

It’s clear the world of football sees its fair share of comebacks, with each player’s return bringing its own unique story. I suppose there’s something about the call of the game that can be hard to resist.