DeMarcus Lawrence isn't sneaking out the back door. The Seahawks defensive end just told Jori Epstein that his 13th NFL season, this one, will be his last, closing the book on a career that started in Dallas and is ending in Seattle with a Lombardi Trophy already in hand.
Lawrence spent his first 11 seasons as a Cowboy, a second-round pick back in 2014 who turned into a five-time Pro Bowler and one of the more disruptive edge rushers of his era. Then last offseason he left Dallas for the first time in his career, signing with Seattle as a free agent on a reported 3-year, $32.5 million deal. It wasn't a retirement lap. It turned into a Super Bowl run.
According to Epstein's reporting, Lawrence seriously considered hanging it up this offseason. His wife and six kids stayed in Dallas while he played out the year in Seattle, and being away from them wore on him. "It was a tough process," Lawrence said, "but through the grace of God, I'm able to play another year and soak it all up one more good time before I hang it up."
What tipped the scale back toward playing was the shot at defending a title. Lawrence said he wanted to feel what it's like carrying "the dot on our back" as the reigning champs, a chance most guys never get. It's a fitting final chapter for a player who logged 157 career games, 67.5 sacks and 108 tackles for loss without ever getting a ring until the Seahawks handed him one in his first year there.
For Seattle, this is also a front-office problem now sitting on the calendar. Lawrence is coming off a season with career highs in fumble recoveries, including two scoop-and-scores, plus extra sacks in the playoffs, and the Seahawks now know exactly how long they have his production locked in before they need an answer at edge rusher. One more ride, then a changing of the guard on Seattle's defensive line.