Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has provided an update on where things stand between the team and Aaron Donald. 

The 31-year-old Aaron Donald might arguably be one of the most important players in the NFL today, with the Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle having become one of the most dominant players at his position that the league has arguably ever seen.

With 472 tackles, 160 tackles for loss and 104 sacks across the regular and postseason, to go along with 7 first-team All-Pro honours and 3 NFL defensive player of the year awards, he is without a doubt one of the premier defenders in the game today.

And having just come off a season that saw him and the Rams win only their 2nd Super Bowl in franchise history, a game in which Donald rode roughshod over the Bengals with 2 sacks, 3 QB hits and 2 tackles for loss.

The end of an era?

Speaking before the big game in February, Donald had hinted that if the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl that he would retire, with Rodney Harrison relaying the message as part of the pregame broadcast:

The chance to ‘go out on top’ is something that a few of the game’s greats like John Elway, Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis have been able to do, and having achieved pretty much everything he can in the game, it would have made some sense for Donald to step down. 

According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler though, it’s not just ambition and wanting to achieve more that will decide if he comes back or not, part of it is money, with the report stating “It's my understanding that Donald has a number he will play for. If it's not met, retirement can still go down. Adding years to an already existing three-year pact takes Donald well into his mid-30s, and who knows whether he wants to play that long?”

Still a small chance of coming back?

Speaking at a press conference as OTAs get underway, head coach Sean McVay was pretty upbeat when it came to how things were going with Donald with regards to a new contract, keeping things pretty short and sweet:

Having been such a key part in getting where the Rams are, you would imagine that they will want to get a deal done, because players like Donald are one in a million, and if they want to repeat as Super Bowl champions, you feel they won’t be able to do it without him.