Larry Fitzgerald shared insights on Aaron Donald's return to the Los Angeles Rams during an interview with the California Post at the DraftKings Invitational Championship at Pebble Beach. Fitzgerald expressed a personal wish that Donald had remained retired to ensure his first-ballot Hall of Fame induction in three years. Fitzgerald stated, "I don’t want him to come back because I want him to go into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in three years."
Donald, a 35-year-old defensive tackle, announced on Sunday that he would return to the Rams for the 2026 season, delaying his Hall of Fame eligibility by five years. Fitzgerald acknowledged Donald's impact on the game, calling him "the most dominant defensive player I’ve probably ever played against." He noted that Donald's return, alongside reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, creates a formidable pass-rushing duo.
Fitzgerald emphasized the strategic challenges for opposing teams when facing Donald and Garrett, as they must decide how to allocate their offensive resources. Donald, who has been away from football for two and a half years, expressed confidence in his ability to perform at a high level, stating, "Do I feel like I can still be myself? 100 percent. If I didn’t feel like that, I wouldn’t be here."
Fitzgerald also commented on the competitiveness of the NFC West, highlighting the San Francisco 49ers and their head coach Kyle Shanahan, stating, "As long as Kyle Shanahan is calling the plays and they have anybody on the roster, they’re going to have a chance to compete." He described Shanahan's efforts last season as impressive, likening it to "sending a chef to a grocery store after a hurricane."
With the Rams bolstering their defense, Fitzgerald noted the potential challenges for the division, stating, "The Rams, however, just added another monster to the neighborhood."