At age 35, Donald joins a select group of NFL stars who successfully interrupted their retirement to step back onto the professional gridiron.
Randall Cunningham’s MVP-Caliber Resurgence
His career appeared finished in 1995 when, at age 32, he drew virtually no interest on the free-agent market following his release by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent his first 12 seasons.
One year later, Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green convinced him to return as a backup in 1997. When starting quarterback Brad Johnson suffered an injury in 1998, Cunningham took over the offense and led the Vikings to a 15-1 record (13-1 in his starts), throwing for 3,704 yards and 34 touchdowns to earn a Pro Bowl nod and an MVP-caliber season.
Deion Sanders’ Defensive Impact in Baltimore
After a three-year hiatus, Sanders returned to the league in 2004 by signing with the Baltimore Ravens and wearing jersey No. 37 to match his age.
Ricky Williams’ Long Return After India
Running back Ricky Williams walked away from the game in 2004 rather than face a drug suspension, moving to India to study yoga and holistic medicine at age 27, as reported by TSN. Just a year earlier, Williams had rushed for an AFC-best 1,854 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins.
Williams returned to Miami for 12 games in 2005, rushing for 743 yards and six touchdowns. Following a suspension, a brief stint in the CFL, and a torn pectoral muscle that limited him to one game in 2007, Williams played four consecutive 16-game seasons between 2008 and 2011. He managed one 1,000-yard season in that span before retiring permanently at age 34 after playing for the Baltimore Ravens in 2011.
Rob Gronkowski and Jason Witten Rejoin the League
Tight end Rob Gronkowski retired in March 2019 following a Super Bowl LIII victory with the New England Patriots, citing the heavy physical toll of the game. After sitting out one full season, Gronkowski returned when longtime teammate Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. Fox Sports noted that Gronkowski recorded 1,425 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns across two seasons in Tampa Bay, winning another Super Bowl ring before retiring permanently after the 2022 season.
Similarly, Jason Witten retired after the 2017 season following 15 years with the Dallas Cowboys to work as an analyst for ESPN. Witten returned to Dallas in 2019, catching 63 passes for 529 yards and four touchdowns, before playing one final season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. He finished his career second only to Tony Gonzalez among tight ends in all-time receiving yards with 13,046, according to Fox Sports data.
Marshawn Lynch and Bronko Nagurski Answer the Call
Marshawn Lynch initially retired after the 2015 season following a 11-year career spent largely with the Seattle Seahawks, where he won a Super Bowl and led the NFC in rushing touchdowns in 2013 and 2014.
Operating as both a running back and defensive tackle during an era of two-way football, Nagurski played eight regular-season games, rushed for 84 yards, and scored a touchdown in the NFL championship game to help the Bears defeat Washington 41-21.
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