Inside the Aaron Donald comeback deal

Published August 30, 2026 05:13 PM He’s back.And the return of defensive tackle Aaron Donald has been memorialized in a contract that replaces the $30 million salary on the one year that remained on his prior deal, when he retired after the 2023 season.Per a source with knowledge of the contract, here are the details:1. 2026 base salary: $10 million.2. 2026 53-man roster bonus: $666,667 per game, with a maximum of 15 games. 3. 2026 playoff qualification incentive: $2.5 million, if he plays at least 15 percent of the regular-season defensive snaps.4. 2026 wild-card incentive: $1.25 million, if active for the game (or if the Rams earn a bye).5. 2026 divisional-round incentive: $1.25 million, if active for the game.6. 2026 conference championship incentive: $2.5 million, if the team wins the game, if he participates in at least 20 percent of the defensive snaps in the NFC Championship, and if he participates in at least 15 percent of the regular-season snaps.7. 2026 Super Bowl incentive: $2.5 million, if the team wins the game, if he participates in at least 20 percent of the defensive snaps in the Super Bowl, and if he participates in at least 15 percent of the regular-season snaps.That’s a maximum of $30 million. But it ultimately hinges on getting to the Super Bowl and winning it.Which is one of the big reasons why he’s coming back, after two years out of football.