Myles Garrett has been in an exciting situation for the last nine days—a dream come true for any pass rusher, really. Whenever he steps into a meeting room at the Los Angeles Rams facility, he finds Aaron Donald there. Whether they’re in the cafeteria, the weight room, or heading to the field, you can catch the two elite pass rushers engaging in discussions about strategies, hand techniques, and how to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
During a recent interaction, Donald mentioned how much of a factor Garrett’s addition played in his decision to come out of retirement. “That was a huge part,” he noted. “You bring a guy like Myles Garrett, a generational talent, and [I was] like, ‘That can be fun.’”
Garrett echoed that sentiment, describing his initial days alongside Donald as “special.” On paper, their combination seems nearly unstoppable—Garrett on the edge and Donald on the inside. It’s enough to give any quarterback sleepless nights, though the rest of the league will have to wait another week to witness this dynamic duo in action.
Coach Sean McVay recently confirmed that Donald will not join the team in Melbourne for the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, postponing what many have been eagerly awaiting: the debut of this intimidating pass-rush partnership.
Meanwhile, Garrett is getting a glimpse of what it would be like to work with Donald during practice. “He has his own way of doing things, physically as well as mentally,” Garrett said of Donald. “He speaks the game, and being able to work off of him is truly a special thing.”
Throughout his career, Donald has accumulated 111 sacks, often facing double teams thanks to his position on the interior line. Garrett isn’t far behind, with 125.5 sacks to his name and arriving in L.A. as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, not to mention being recognized as the top player on the NFL Top 100 list by his peers. Instead of needing any rushing tutorials, they’re simply exchanging insights.
This could be alarming news for opposing offenses.
When asked what he’s learned about Donald in their first nine days together that doesn’t come from stats or accolades, Garrett’s humorous side came out. “He smiles more than I thought,” he quipped. “You see him on the field, and he doesn’t look like he smiles ever. But, yeah, he has a good sense of humor.”
However, what resonates with Garrett even more is the respect Donald commands among teammates and coaches. “That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve learned — how well he works not only with myself, but also with everyone,” he remarked.
This week, while Donald stays back, Garrett will make his Rams debut down under. He noted that everything has been a blur since joining the team, but he aims to calm his instincts on the field once the game starts. “I hope to just slow it down on the field and do what I do,” he stated.
The Rams have been cautious with Garrett’s preseason preparations, but he brushed off any worries about limited practice time hindering his performance against San Francisco. When asked about his goals for the season, Garrett’s answer came readily: “The Super Bowl,” along with a desire to reclaim the Defensive Player of the Year title. He added, “I think there’s a whole bunch of opportunities out there for us as a D-line to be something truly special. I just want us to be able to realize that and never go into the locker room after a game feeling like we could have achieved more, done more.”
For now, the frightening pairing of Donald and Garrett remains unseen by the rest of the NFL. But within the walls of the Rams’ facility, this promising collaboration is already underway, as two future Hall of Famers share ideas and plans. And, interestingly enough, Donald seems to be enjoying himself.
That might not sit well with opposing quarterbacks.
