The Seattle Seahawks brought DeMarcus Lawrence back for another run at a championship, but the veteran pass rusher had already pictured a much different ending.
Lawrence, 34, acknowledged Friday that he entered Super Bowl LX believing a victory could be the final game of his NFL career.
Seattle won, and Lawrence finally got the championship he had spent more than a decade chasing.
Retirement sat there as a clean exit, but he changed his mind.
Lawrence told reporters his return ultimately came after getting the blessing of his wife, Sasha, and the pull of trying to keep Seattle on top proved strong enough to bring him back for a 13th season.
Lawrence Says He Was ‘Done’ If Seahawks Won Super Bowl
GettySANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: DeMarcus Lawrence #0 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Lawrence didn’t leave much space for interpretation when asked when he decided to keep playing.
“When my wife said it was OK,” Lawrence said Friday, as reported by ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Lawrence added that he had made up his mind that a Super Bowl win would mean he was finished.
The feeling changed after Seattle completed its championship run.
“I kinda had my mind made up that if I won, I was done,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence had spent 11 years in Dallas without getting past the divisional round before joining the Seahawks in March 2025. His first season in Seattle ended with the one accomplishment missing from his career.
The process around the decision also made it more complicated.
Lawrence’s wife gave birth to their sixth child, Syenna, one day after the Super Bowl. Lawrence made it back to Texas for the birth after celebrating the championship with his teammates.
Additionally, during OTAs in May, Lawrence made retirement sound much less likely, saying the “chances were very slim” because he still had more to give and had enjoyed his first year in Seattle so much.
His comments Friday showed the decision had been closer than that answer suggested.
Lawrence Returns With Seahawks Aiming for Repeat
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – FEBRUARY 11: DeMarcus Lawrence #0 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with fans during the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl LX victory celebration and parade at Lumen Field on February 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The appeal of walking away on top made sense.
Lawrence had already played 12 NFL seasons with five Pro Bowl selections and finally won his first championship.
Instead, the challenge of defending it grabbed him.
“This is where the hard part begins and staying on the top,” Lawrence said, via Seattle’s official team website.
Lawrence also said Seattle now has the “dot on our back” after winning the Super Bowl, a position he wants to experience with the same locker room that helped deliver his first title.
Seattle has plenty of reason to welcome that decision.
Lawrence started all 16 games in 2025 and finished with 53 tackles, six sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
He also led Seattle with 11 tackles for loss and earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection. Two of his fumble recoveries went for touchdowns.
Those numbers came after Lawrence played only four games during his final season in Dallas because of a foot injury.
His first year with Seattle became a bounce-back season and gave Mike Macdonald another veteran presence for a defense that finished No. 1 in the NFL in scoring.
Lawrence could’ve left with the ending most players spend their careers trying to find.
Instead, he’s back for the part he believes is harder.
“They say it’s no fun when the rabbit has the gun,” Lawrence said. “We’re the ones with the dot on our back.”
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