Aikman misidentifies Rams player as Aaron Donald on MNF broadcast

During ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast of the Los Angeles Rams' Week 2 game against the New York Giants, analyst Troy Aikman mistakenly identified Rams defensive lineman Tyler Davis as star player Aaron Donald. The error occurred during a first-quarter replay when Aikman, breaking down a defensive play, stated, "Now heres a look at Aaron Donald and his quickness," while the player shown on screen was Davis, wearing jersey number 90. Donald, who wears number 99, was not on the field for that specific play. The blunder was immediately noticed by viewers, as Donald's return to NFL action was a major storyline of the game. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year had ended his retirement in late August 2026, signing a one-year, $20 million deal with the Rams. His appearance against the Giants marked his first game action in 32 months. He was introduced last in the Rams' pregame starting lineup and took the field for the Giants' opening offensive possession. The broadcast mistake sparked widespread reaction on social media.