DeMarcus Lawrence Is the Veteran Force Powering the NFL’s Nastiest Defense
In a league where youth, speed, and upside often dominate the headlines, DeMarcus Lawrence is reminding everyone that experience and grit still matter - a lot.
After an injury-shortened 2024 season that left many wondering how much he had left, the 33-year-old defensive lineman has not only bounced back - he’s turned into the tone-setter for a Seattle Seahawks defense that’s been downright menacing. The numbers back it up, but the film tells the real story: Lawrence is playing like a man on a mission, and the Seahawks are reaping the benefits.
A Proven Resume, Now in a New Uniform
Let’s get one thing straight - Lawrence has never exactly flown under the radar. He’s been a problem for opposing offenses since he entered the league as a second-round pick out of Boise State in 2014.
Over 11 seasons with the Cowboys, he racked up 69 sacks and 475 total pressures. That’s not a flash-in-the-pan résumé - that’s the body of work of a consistent, high-level performer.
Still, after missing most of last season with a foot injury and hitting his mid-30s, questions were fair. The Seahawks, however, didn’t hesitate.
They gave him a three-year, $32.5 million deal with $18 million guaranteed - a clear sign they believed he could still be a difference-maker. Turns out, they were right.
Production Meets Presence
This season, Lawrence has stacked up seven sacks, 39 pressures, nine tackles for loss, 18 stops, and a forced fumble. Those are his best numbers in multiple categories since 2021 and 2023. But beyond the box score, it’s what he brings to the Seahawks’ defensive front - already talented before his arrival - that’s elevated this unit from good to dominant.
Lawrence brings edge, toughness, and a veteran’s understanding of how to win matchups. He’s not just playing well - he’s setting the tone. And when he’s not on the field, the difference is noticeable.
Case in point: the one game he missed this season, a Week 5 shootout loss to the Buccaneers. Without Lawrence, Seattle’s defense looked like a shell of itself.
They allowed 38 points, had just one sack, and their Defensive EPA per play dropped into the negatives. With him in the lineup?
The Seahawks allow just 16.3 points per game, give up a stingy 2.25 yards per play, and average over three and a half sacks per contest. That’s not just impact - that’s foundational.
A Statement Game Against the Vikings
If there was any doubt about just how vital Lawrence has become, look no further than Seattle’s 26-0 dismantling of the Minnesota Vikings - the Seahawks’ first shutout since 2015 and the first time the Vikings had been blanked in 18 years.
Lawrence was everywhere. In the second quarter, with Minnesota threatening at Seattle’s 4-yard line on fourth-and-1, he blew through the protection like it wasn’t even there and chased rookie quarterback Max Brosmer all the way back near the 25-yard line.
Brosmer, trying to salvage the play, made the cardinal mistake of throwing while going down. Linebacker Ernest Jones snagged it and took it 85 yards the other way for a touchdown.
Lawrence didn’t get the stat for the pick, but he created the chaos that made it happen.
“I thought he was throwing it away,” Lawrence said after the game. “Then I hear the crowd roar, and I see E.J. just flying past me. I got up and celebrated - that’s what we do.”
Jones echoed that sentiment: “I saw DeMarcus getting ready to take him down, and I’m thinking, ‘No way he throws this.’ But he did.
I caught it, looked up, and there was nobody in front of me. Riq [Tariq Woolen] was trying to beat me to the end zone.
That’s my first defensive touchdown - it felt amazing.”
And Lawrence wasn’t done.
On the Vikings’ next drive, facing third-and-12, Lawrence went to work again. He beat right tackle Brian O’Neill with a blend of power and finesse, collapsing the pocket and sacking Brosmer.
Seattle’s defensive line has been stunt-heavy this season - more than any other team - and this play showed why it works. Fullback C.J.
Ham got caught up accounting for Leonard Williams’ movement, and Brosmer had no quick release. Lawrence took full advantage.
Then came the exclamation point. Midway through the third quarter, Minnesota tried to get something going with a simple checkdown to Aaron Jones on third-and-14.
Lawrence initially missed the tackle, but like a heat-seeking missile, he recovered, chased Jones down, and punched the ball out. Safety Ty Okada fell on it.
That play had head coach Mike Macdonald fired up.
“DeMarcus Lawrence’s forced fumble is probably my new favorite play of all time,” Macdonald said. “Just an incredible, violent play on the ball. That’s exactly what we emphasize, and to see it executed like that - it was special.”
Lawrence broke it down like a man who’s been doing this a long time: “I called a hit on the back - I knew the ball was coming out fast. He gave me a little thump and I went down, but I got up quick.
That’s a hot stove - you don’t stay down long. I retraced, found the ball carrier, and attacked.”
More Than Just Stats - He’s the Heartbeat
Every great defense has a guy who holds it all together. Not always the loudest voice, not always the flashiest name - but the one whose presence raises the standard.
That’s what Lawrence has become in Seattle. After a lost 2024 campaign, he’s not just back - he’s better, and he’s become the glue guy every contending defense needs.
And when asked about the Seahawks’ 9-3 record and their control over their postseason destiny, Lawrence didn’t mince words.
“I don’t care,” he said. “They line up - excuse my language - they get f---ed up. Thank you.”
That’s not just bravado. That’s a mentality. And right now, it’s the mentality of the NFL’s most dangerous defense - one that has DeMarcus Lawrence right at the center.