The 2025 NFL season gave us some elite defenses, but none were more dominant than the Seattle Seahawks. Yes, the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos were formidable in their own right, but Seattle stood alone in key metrics - leading the league in fewest points allowed and fewest rushing yards per attempt, while ranking top-five across most defensive categories.
And at the heart of that resurgence? DeMarcus Lawrence.
At 33, Lawrence wasn’t supposed to be this impactful. After a decade with the Dallas Cowboys, the veteran edge rusher was let go, seemingly past his prime after playing just four games in 2024.
But Seattle saw something. And Lawrence saw something in Seattle - a chance to win a title.
He joined the Seahawks in free agency with one thing on his mind: chasing a ring. Now, just one win away from that goal, it's clear the fit has been just about perfect.
Lawrence didn’t just fill a hole on the Seahawks’ defensive line - he elevated the entire unit. With 11 tackles for loss (his most since 2020) and 20 quarterback hits (his highest since 2018), he turned back the clock and then some.
He was part of a relentless edge-rushing rotation that gave opposing offenses fits all season long. But it wasn’t just the numbers - it was the timing, the instincts, and the leadership that made his presence felt.
Ask anyone in that Seattle locker room, and they’ll tell you: DeMarcus Lawrence changed the equation.
“When DLaw came over here, it was, that’s a player I think that we were missing,” said defensive lineman Jarran Reed during Opening Night ahead of Super Bowl 60. “That’s our dark horse: a guy who can rush on the edge, rush on the inside, play the run well, and create turnovers. When he came (to Seattle), that was great for us, and when we got him, we knew that we had got a special player.”
Reed’s not wrong. What makes Lawrence so valuable isn’t just his pass rush - it’s his versatility.
Like Jadeveon Clowney during his brief but impactful stint in Seattle back in 2019, Lawrence can line up anywhere, take on any assignment, and still make plays. That kind of flexibility allows the rest of the defense to stay locked into their roles, confident that Lawrence will handle his with precision and power.
And then there are moments that go beyond the stat sheet. Like in the NFC Championship Game against the Rams.
Fourth down. Seahawks up late.
Ball on Seattle’s six-yard line. Matthew Stafford drops back, looking for a quick strike to take the lead - but Lawrence isn’t rushing.
He’s dropping into coverage. Right into the passing lane.
The play call said rush, but the film study said otherwise. Lawrence trusted what he saw and made the adjustment.
Rams head coach Sean McVay called it a “lucky mistake.” Lawrence called it preparation. He’d seen the tendency, read Stafford’s eyes, and made the play.
That’s who DeMarcus Lawrence has been for Seattle all season - a veteran with elite instincts, the physical tools to still dominate, and the football IQ to make game-changing decisions in the biggest moments. He’s not just playing at a high level again - he’s thriving, and he’s doing it on the NFL’s most complete defense.
Now, with one game left to play, Lawrence and the Seahawks are on the doorstep of a championship. And if they get there, don’t be surprised if No. 90 is right in the middle of it, making the kind of play that turns a great defense into a legendary one.