Donald ends retirement to form defensive duo with Garrett

Donald last played in the 2023 season.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 301 min read

Aaron Donald 🤝 Myles Garrett Who is stopping this duo? https://t.co/06hQVLZJsP Via @NFLonFOX on X

What happened: Donald, 35, returns on a one-year, $20 million deal that can reach $30 million through playoff incentives. He joins Myles Garrett for the upcoming 2026 season.

Why it matters: The pairing combines a three-time Defensive Player of the Year with the reigning winner. It follows Donald’s second official workout on Aug. 16.

By the numbers: The contract carries up to $10 million in playoff incentives, a potential 50% increase over its $20 million base value.

What to watch: Donald’s workload and Garrett’s alignment beside him will come into focus before Week 1.

Sources

@NFLonFOX 2026-08-30T21:18:15.063608+00:00

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