After months of retirement speculation, Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald decided to return to the franchise, signing a record, three-year contract on Monday. Donald became the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. On Tuesday, the Rams star was asked how close he came to actually retiring. He responded with just eight words, per NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.

Donald said that “we ain't got to worry about that now.” The Rams star isn't wrong, as the focus should now be on the defense of the team's Super Bowl ring, which definitely has Donald's full attention.

However, it's human nature to wonder. Could Donald have really retired? In a March Sports Illustrated interview, Donald candidly spoke about his family and how he always wanted to “put his kids first.”

In May, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that if the Rams didn't meet Donald's contract demands, the All-Pro pass rusher would be content with retirement.

It seems that Donald was pretty close to retiring, even if he won't actually say it. Rams fans are certainly glad he didn't, as the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is still at the peak of his powers.

Donald tallied double-digit sacks for the fifth straight season while earning All-Pro honors for the seventh straight. He'll geta chance to add to his list of accolades- and to the ring on his finger- in 2022.