June 3, 2026 • 8 mins
Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington dive into the growing speculation about Aaron Donald potentially coming out of retirement—especially the buzz around a dream pairing with Myles Garrett on the Rams.
Parker isn’t buying it. He pushes back hard, questioning why Donald would return after openly admitting he had lost his passion for the game. For Parker, it just doesn’t add up—Donald already has the money, the health, and walked away at the absolute peak of his career.
Kelvin Washington sees it differently. He points to the massive financial upside and argues that history has shown superstar comebacks can absolutely work.
Would a return make sense—or risk tarnishing one of the greatest careers ever? The guys debate both sides of a potential Aaron Donald comeback.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
One Aaron that Rob doesn't like Aaron Donald was Miles
Garrett got traded to the Rams. The next question on
everybody's mind was, damn, can you imagine if Aaron Donald
came out of retirement, him and Miles Garrett.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
On the same d line. It'd be incredible.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
So Shady McCoy, who played at Pittsburgh where Aaron Donald played, Hey,
you know I've been texting with ad. You know he
may or may not want to come back. We'll see
one of his former teammates, Michael Brockers from the Rams saying,
you know what, I got some intel my guys staying ready.
He don't got to get ready. But Pat McAfee got
Aaron Donald on record had a Texas change, which she
(00:33):
read on air today during the Pat McAfee show. McAfee said,
but text saying, hey, you're thinking about coming back to
play with the Rams. And here's what Aaron Donald said.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Quote.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
It for sure got me thinking thirty five removed two
years ago. Got to see if that fire can light
back up.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I got news for you.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I got a fire extinguisher and I'm gonna keep the
flame extinguished. Please just go home, stay with you your family,
you were tired. Guys kill me with this. I don't
understand it seriously, because it takes a lot for you.
It's something you've done as a kid all the way.
When you step away, it speaks volumes, it really does.
(01:15):
I'm not I'm talking about like the Brett Fahr who
never really he was like I'm retiring.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
He never really quit and then came back. It was
just conversation. He didn't.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
He didn't take a year or two off and then
come back. I just don't understand it. Uh, you know,
just because someone textes you or whatever. It in like
like he Aaron would not have quit if he didn't
feel that way. He has the perfect life. You know
why he went out on top with a championship. Bing
(01:44):
he made, he got his big contract playing in the
National Football League.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Bing, he's got his health bing your kid.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Your family, get to have a young dad around, and
all this other stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
All of these things are winning. What you could do is.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Come back, get hurt, not play well for people to
look at you and go, man, I remember when he
was really like the best player in the league. Okay,
or Matthew Stafford has four snaps and bust something and
then the season's over and you're there playing for what.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I don't get it, Aaron Donald, don't do it.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I would rather you go work at McDonald's then come
back and play.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
For the Rams. I'm that serious. Don't be this.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
At least there the man got a chance to make.
First of all, crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
To get it.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
He's already got money. He wouldn't have left if he
needed money. He wouldn't have left. A lot of NFL players,
and you notice they dropped it at fifty five years old.
There's a lot that goes into it. He did not
quit because he couldn't play. Is that he thought it
out and made a right decision. It wasn't like I
(02:57):
was unfulfilled because I never won a Super Bowl or
I never got there.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
He was at the pinnacle. I just hope he had
a brain fart for a couple of minutes and when
he was tired. No, no, no, he.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Had the brain part then right when he was tired.
That's what it was. Now, Man, listen to me, Rob.
Everybody can't have a You know, this is my fortieth year.
You know this is my thirty figure. You know, what
are you going to forty five? You're going to year
forty five in this business.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, But but.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I know what I'm saying is, but but when I'm
ready to retire.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
With you, guy, believe you believe you think I'm gonna
come back? No, not in this capacity. I think you'll
find something else.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
No. But the only reason why I do believe I'm
not because you have been You are very stick to itive.
I'll give you that, And why not tell you that
I'm working on on the do I'll give you that
you got you got you get that on that that
mean I give that Now. What I'm saying with Aaron
Donald is this a couple of things. One the reason
I brought up how long you've been doing this is
there are times where athletes realize this is the smallest
(04:02):
window to a professional career. You're going forty five. I've
been in a twenty one years. I could go another
twenty years, and so on and so forth. Right, we haven't.
We're blessed with a career. Al Pacino still acting, he's
what one hundred and six, Clinton Eastwood got to be
one hundred and nine. So my point is there are
certain careers you can keep going. Teachers, teacher, there's seventy
something or principles, and athletes know it's a finite career,
(04:24):
and I think that they do get the itch sometimes.
I didn't want to go through a summer camp. I
didn't have OTA's in me. I wanted to be home.
And I think they get home and they rest up
and your body's feeling good. You took a couple of
years off, and I think they get that itch. And
I give you an example. Tom Brady never quite got
the itch like that Tom Brady. I mean he never
really let it. So that's why I say he never
(04:45):
really let it settle. But what he did was go
call Rob Gronkowski and he said, yo, grunt, come on
back with me, who would have been all four a
year two, Come on back, come win this super Bowl
with me and Tampa.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
And they come back and they won. Eric Wattle did
that for the Rams.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
It ended up being a pivotal piece defensively for the
Rams the year they wanted back in twenty with the
February of twenty twenty two. So I think there are
examples of where guys come back. They're fresh, they're healthy.
Have you seen Aaron Donald or what he's been doing.
He ain't missed the beat physically.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Okay, Can I can I give you? Can I give
you a quote from Aaron Donald? Aaron Donald may five.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yes, let me hear right. That's just about a year
year ago, okay. Quote.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
As far as playing football, I don't miss it. I
don't even have the passion or excitement to want to
play football. I will always love football, But once you
lose the passion, it's time to walk away. Hello, he
said this, There wasn't a gun to his back.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Those are real, Those are the real comments.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
He got caught up in the trade and somebody texting
them and being involved in all that. Come on, man,
you don't say this a year ago unless you believe it.
And once you lose that passion, we talk about it
all the time. When players start even talking about retirement,
you don't want that guy.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
He's already checked out.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
I don't disagree with most humans, but I use Gronk
as an example.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Arguably a top what where you want to put him?
Three four? Tight end of all time?
Speaker 4 (06:23):
And Gronk was younger, he was tired early, but his
body's more batter than Aaron Donald.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
But it ain't it ain't the same.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Aaron Aaron Donald. I'll say this to say, Aaron Donald
is still a young thirty five. He has a couple
of years off. It's kind of like Michael Vick, not
that he wanted to retire, but set him out to prison,
and he got two years off to just stay healthy,
to keep his body right, and came back and had
the best year of his career yet. A couple of
years with Andy Reid. And all I'm saying with Aaron
Donald is I get why he might be interested. I
(06:51):
get why he might want to say, man, Matthew Stafford,
whose question retirement is there?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Again?
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Sean McVay. Sean McVay questioned retirement is there? So you
got Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford, guys who've been through, but
they pushed through.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
They've had great season.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Either one of them, Sean McVay or Matthew Stafford was
never the best player in the league.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
They were never on that.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
He's not. He's right there on the short list.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Well, who's better. I'm just saying it's not on my list.
He could just go on, he's right there.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Many people will say, Sean, fine, I don't care what
many people say.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I'm in my opinion and someone right there nineteen ninety.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Sean McVay absolutely deserves to be right nineteen eighty seven.
And so if Sean McVay question, that's why he never
fixed the special teams, That's why he didn't get a kicker.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
He didn't do what he didn't do what he needed
to do. Last year. It was a.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Problem all year and they right and part of it
was as him as a cod Their defense horrible the
second half, and they righted that ship.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Talking about it and I'm talking about what happened last year.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Issues team all year, I'm going to trust that they
right the ship. He has earned that that he has done.
He finds ways to fix holes for sure. His last year,
that's what caught right. That's why I'm talking about this season.
So my old point is, if Aaron Donald wants to
come back, I understand it. I get it. He's that talented,
he's that healthy, he's that in shape. The team would
(08:14):
not need him to be Aaron Donald of the twenty eighteens, nineteens,
and twenties. They would need him to be just give
us spot plays here there We've got other players, and
come just be great, be around the locker room, be
a leader, make a play here or there and go
for a last ride. Might be the last ride for
him Stafford, might even be McVeigh.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
You never know.
One Aaron that Rob doesn't like Aaron Donald was Miles
Garrett got traded to the Rams. The next question on
everybody's mind was, damn, can you imagine if Aaron Donald
came out of retirement, him and Miles Garrett.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
On the same d line. It'd be incredible.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
So Shady McCoy, who played at Pittsburgh where Aaron Donald played, Hey,
you know I've been texting with ad. You know he
may or may not want to come back. We'll see
one of his former teammates, Michael Brockers from the Rams saying,
you know what, I got some intel my guys staying ready.
He don't got to get ready. But Pat McAfee got
Aaron Donald on record had a Texas change, which she
(00:33):
read on air today during the Pat McAfee show. McAfee said,
but text saying, hey, you're thinking about coming back to
play with the Rams. And here's what Aaron Donald said.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Quote.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
It for sure got me thinking thirty five removed two
years ago. Got to see if that fire can light
back up.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I got news for you.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I got a fire extinguisher and I'm gonna keep the
flame extinguished. Please just go home, stay with you your family,
you were tired. Guys kill me with this. I don't
understand it seriously, because it takes a lot for you.
It's something you've done as a kid all the way.
When you step away, it speaks volumes, it really does.
(01:15):
I'm not I'm talking about like the Brett Fahr who
never really he was like I'm retiring.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
He never really quit and then came back. It was
just conversation. He didn't.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
He didn't take a year or two off and then
come back. I just don't understand it. Uh, you know,
just because someone textes you or whatever. It in like
like he Aaron would not have quit if he didn't
feel that way. He has the perfect life. You know
why he went out on top with a championship. Bing
(01:44):
he made, he got his big contract playing in the
National Football League.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Bing, he's got his health bing your kid.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Your family, get to have a young dad around, and
all this other stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
All of these things are winning. What you could do is.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Come back, get hurt, not play well for people to
look at you and go, man, I remember when he
was really like the best player in the league. Okay,
or Matthew Stafford has four snaps and bust something and
then the season's over and you're there playing for what.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
I don't get it, Aaron Donald, don't do it.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I would rather you go work at McDonald's then come
back and play.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
For the Rams. I'm that serious. Don't be this.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
At least there the man got a chance to make.
First of all, crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
To get it.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
He's already got money. He wouldn't have left if he
needed money. He wouldn't have left. A lot of NFL players,
and you notice they dropped it at fifty five years old.
There's a lot that goes into it. He did not
quit because he couldn't play. Is that he thought it
out and made a right decision. It wasn't like I
(02:57):
was unfulfilled because I never won a Super Bowl or
I never got there.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
He was at the pinnacle. I just hope he had
a brain fart for a couple of minutes and when
he was tired. No, no, no, he.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Had the brain part then right when he was tired.
That's what it was. Now, Man, listen to me, Rob.
Everybody can't have a You know, this is my fortieth year.
You know this is my thirty figure. You know, what
are you going to forty five? You're going to year
forty five in this business.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah, But but.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I know what I'm saying is, but but when I'm
ready to retire.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
With you, guy, believe you believe you think I'm gonna
come back? No, not in this capacity. I think you'll
find something else.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
No. But the only reason why I do believe I'm
not because you have been You are very stick to itive.
I'll give you that, And why not tell you that
I'm working on on the do I'll give you that
you got you got you get that on that that
mean I give that Now. What I'm saying with Aaron
Donald is this a couple of things. One the reason
I brought up how long you've been doing this is
there are times where athletes realize this is the smallest
(04:02):
window to a professional career. You're going forty five. I've
been in a twenty one years. I could go another
twenty years, and so on and so forth. Right, we haven't.
We're blessed with a career. Al Pacino still acting, he's
what one hundred and six, Clinton Eastwood got to be
one hundred and nine. So my point is there are
certain careers you can keep going. Teachers, teacher, there's seventy
something or principles, and athletes know it's a finite career,
(04:24):
and I think that they do get the itch sometimes.
I didn't want to go through a summer camp. I
didn't have OTA's in me. I wanted to be home.
And I think they get home and they rest up
and your body's feeling good. You took a couple of
years off, and I think they get that itch. And
I give you an example. Tom Brady never quite got
the itch like that Tom Brady. I mean he never
really let it. So that's why I say he never
(04:45):
really let it settle. But what he did was go
call Rob Gronkowski and he said, yo, grunt, come on
back with me, who would have been all four a
year two, Come on back, come win this super Bowl
with me and Tampa.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
And they come back and they won. Eric Wattle did
that for the Rams.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
It ended up being a pivotal piece defensively for the
Rams the year they wanted back in twenty with the
February of twenty twenty two. So I think there are
examples of where guys come back. They're fresh, they're healthy.
Have you seen Aaron Donald or what he's been doing.
He ain't missed the beat physically.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Okay, Can I can I give you? Can I give
you a quote from Aaron Donald? Aaron Donald may five.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yes, let me hear right. That's just about a year
year ago, okay. Quote.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
As far as playing football, I don't miss it. I
don't even have the passion or excitement to want to
play football. I will always love football, But once you
lose the passion, it's time to walk away. Hello, he
said this, There wasn't a gun to his back.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Those are real, Those are the real comments.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
He got caught up in the trade and somebody texting
them and being involved in all that. Come on, man,
you don't say this a year ago unless you believe it.
And once you lose that passion, we talk about it
all the time. When players start even talking about retirement,
you don't want that guy.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
He's already checked out.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
I don't disagree with most humans, but I use Gronk
as an example.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Arguably a top what where you want to put him?
Three four? Tight end of all time?
Speaker 4 (06:23):
And Gronk was younger, he was tired early, but his
body's more batter than Aaron Donald.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
But it ain't it ain't the same.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Aaron Aaron Donald. I'll say this to say, Aaron Donald
is still a young thirty five. He has a couple
of years off. It's kind of like Michael Vick, not
that he wanted to retire, but set him out to prison,
and he got two years off to just stay healthy,
to keep his body right, and came back and had
the best year of his career yet. A couple of
years with Andy Reid. And all I'm saying with Aaron
Donald is I get why he might be interested. I
(06:51):
get why he might want to say, man, Matthew Stafford,
whose question retirement is there?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Again?
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Sean McVay. Sean McVay questioned retirement is there? So you
got Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford, guys who've been through, but
they pushed through.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
They've had great season.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Either one of them, Sean McVay or Matthew Stafford was
never the best player in the league.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
They were never on that.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
He's not. He's right there on the short list.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Well, who's better. I'm just saying it's not on my list.
He could just go on, he's right there.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Many people will say, Sean, fine, I don't care what
many people say.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I'm in my opinion and someone right there nineteen ninety.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Sean McVay absolutely deserves to be right nineteen eighty seven.
And so if Sean McVay question, that's why he never
fixed the special teams, That's why he didn't get a kicker.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
He didn't do what he didn't do what he needed
to do. Last year. It was a.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Problem all year and they right and part of it
was as him as a cod Their defense horrible the
second half, and they righted that ship.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Talking about it and I'm talking about what happened last year.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Issues team all year, I'm going to trust that they
right the ship. He has earned that that he has done.
He finds ways to fix holes for sure. His last year,
that's what caught right. That's why I'm talking about this season.
So my old point is, if Aaron Donald wants to
come back, I understand it. I get it. He's that talented,
he's that healthy, he's that in shape. The team would
(08:14):
not need him to be Aaron Donald of the twenty eighteens, nineteens,
and twenties. They would need him to be just give
us spot plays here there We've got other players, and
come just be great, be around the locker room, be
a leader, make a play here or there and go
for a last ride. Might be the last ride for
him Stafford, might even be McVeigh.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
You never know.
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