The Kansas City Chiefs' trip to Southern California in Week 13 was already must-watch football. Two star-laden teams opening up the NFL's slate of late-season programming in December on Thursday Night Football—that's ratings gold. But on Sunday, the Rams just pushed things over the top with the long-rumored return of Aaron Donald to the NFL.
Donald needs no introduction as the best defensive player of his generation. For years, Chiefs fans were used to hearing defensive tackle Chris Jones described as the best interior defender not named Donald. After the '23 season, Donald retired (after being named first-team All-Pro, of course) and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett took on the mantle as the NFL's most feared defender.
This season, however, the Rams have built a juggernaut, because now they've somehow found a way to add both Garrett and Donald to the same defensive front.
Aaron Donald's return means the Chiefs face a true juggernaut of a Rams roster in Week 13.
Donald officially signed with the Rams on a one-year deal worth $20 million with incentives that could reach $10 million more. He joins Garrett, whom the Rams acquired in a blockbuster offseason deal, in a remade defensive line that will undoubtedly wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
Donald is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2018, 2020), tying him with Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt for the most ever. He's an eight-time first-team All-Pro and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 previous seasons. He also won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, was a unanimous pick for the NFL's All-Decade team of the 2010s, and secured his bust in the hallowed Halls of Canton years ago.
The Chiefs' matchup scheduled for Week 13 was already a heavily circled date on the calendars of fans. Not only is it a big deal to play any Super Bowl contender (or even favorite), but the Rams imported a couple of former Chiefs' stars this offseason as well to remake the secondary. They traded for All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie and then signed starter Jaylen Watson in free agency, rewarding both players with lucrative long-term contracts.
Now that Donald has signed, a ticket for the Chiefs-Rams matchup to start the season's final month is going to be one of the most desired on Kansas City's schedule. Of course, fans can only hope that the game features two teams jostling for supremacy in their respective conferences, rather than a repeat of the Chiefs' collapse in 2025 that brought a dynasty to its knees. At the very least, the Rams will be thrilling to watch after adding so many impressive players.
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