Aaron Donald's retirement after the 2023 season left a massive hole in the Los Angeles Rams' defensive line—one that no single player could fill. While the Rams have worked hard to rebuild their defense, they secretly held out hope for a long time that their future Hall of Famer might change his mind and return for another Super Bowl run.

As it turns out, that hope lasted longer than you might think. Donald recently revealed on the "Not Just Football" podcast that Rams coaches, including head coach Sean McVay, kept the conversation about an unretirement going for "the first two years." But McVay, a close friend and longtime collaborator, eventually understood where Donald stood.

"I'm going to say the first two years, they would still be talking that talk about it," Donald said. "But it kind of quieted down because he kind of knows where I'm at. That's my guy. We talked. So he kind of knows where I'm at with it."

Now more than two years removed from his decision, Donald is happily enjoying retirement. He's already pivoted to the business world and even has his sights set on acting—he previously appeared on "Hawaii Five-O." With no training camps, OTAs, or grueling 17-game seasons to worry about, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is firmly committed to life after football.

For Rams fans, the message is clear: enjoy the memories of No. 99 wreaking havoc in the backfield, because that chapter is officially closed.