Lawrence's Farewell Season
Seahawks Edge Rusher DeMarcus Lawrence Sets 2026 Retirement After Super Bowl Win
Key Points
Lawrence signed a three-year, $32.5 million contract with the Seahawks last offseason, with up to $10 million in incentives.
In 2025 his production for Seattle included six sacks, 20 quarterback hits and 11 tackles for loss in the regular season, plus three forced fumbles in the playoffs.
Lawrence has emphasized the Dallas home life of his wife and six children as a key factor in his retirement timeline and location choices.
He has embraced the 'hunted' role for his final season, saying, 'We're the ones with the dot on our backs' and expressing curiosity about overcoming new obstacles as a team.
Separately, Pearce's case resulted in a suspension without pay under the NFL Personal Conduct Policy; he can participate in preseason, with reinstatement eligible November 2, and a suspension window that could see a Week 9 return.
Seattle Seahawks edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence has announced that 2026 will be his final NFL season, ending a 13-year career that concluded with a Super Bowl LX championship ring. NY Post reported the news, making Lawrence one of the few players to announce retirement a full year in advance. The 34-year-old five-time Pro Bowler joined Seattle last offseason after 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
Lawrence signed a three-year, $32.5 million deal with Seattle — with up to $10 million in incentives — and immediately paid off, according to Seahawks Wire. In the regular season he posted six sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and 11 tackles for loss. In the playoffs he added two more sacks and three forced fumbles, helping Seattle hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Family in Dallas Drives Lawrence's Retirement Decision
Lawrence's wife and six children live in Dallas. That fact sits at the center of his decision to retire after 2026. Sports Northwest reported that Lawrence came close to retiring before this season but chose one more year. Playing in Seattle — far from his family's Texas home — has a clear expiration date in his mind.
He has made no secret of the pull his family has on him. After more than a decade in Dallas with the Cowboys, uprooting to Seattle was a professional choice. Retirement, he has said, is about getting back to where his heart already is.
Lawrence's 2025 Season Fueled Seattle's Super Bowl Run
Lawrence started all 16 regular-season games for Seattle, per Seahawks Wire. His six sacks and 20 quarterback hits made him one of the team's most disruptive defenders. His 11 tackles for loss ranked among the best on the team's defense, which finished the year as one of the league's most feared units.
The playoffs showed Lawrence at his best. He forced three fumbles and recorded two sacks as Seattle marched to Super Bowl LX. 12th Man Rising noted that his impact was something Seahawks fans saw coming all season, even if the broader NFL world underestimated the signing.
Lawrence Embraces 'Hunted' Role as a Champion in 2026
Lawrence is not running from the spotlight of being a defending champion. He said, 'We're the ones with the dot on our backs,' embracing the target that comes with winning. He told reporters he is curious about the new obstacles his team will face and how they will overcome them together.
The New York Times noted that Lawrence wants to soak up every moment of his final season with his teammates. After 13 years in the league — 11 with Dallas and two with Seattle — he is going out on his own terms, with a ring, and with a clear plan for what comes next.
What Lawrence Leaves Behind After 13 NFL Seasons
Lawrence entered the league as a second-round pick and built one of the more durable careers among defensive ends of his era. His five Pro Bowl selections and long run as Dallas's top pass rusher defined his legacy before he ever set foot in Seattle.
He leaves Seattle as a champion and, by most accounts, one of the best free-agent signings the Seahawks have made in years. Seahawks Wire called him 'one of Seattle's most underrated free agent signings.' Some reports have noted his timeline could stretch to 2027, but Lawrence himself has pointed firmly to 2026 as the end.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativePublishers
11
Articles
10
Reach
21
