The Seahawks went on to surprisingly win the Super Bowl last year, with one veteran player playing a huge role with the team after joining from the Cowboys while being questioned by Micah Parsons
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.
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.(Image: Getty)
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Seattle Seahawks star DeMarcus Lawrence has announced the 2026 NFL season will be his last before retiring, after almost calling it quits this off-season.
Lawrence played a significant role in the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl in a dominant defensive performance, leaving Drake Maye struggling mightily. Seattle's defense recorded the most sacks in Super Bowl history with six.
.The 34-year-old joined a young team that were seen as an exciting unit, but were not amongst the favorites. This, coming after Lawrence spent 11 years with the Dallas Cowboys - many as their captain. After he left the team, Lawrence was clowned by Micah Parsons after he said: "Dallas is my home... But I know for sure I'm not going to win a Super Bowl there"
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Parsons had responded to that message while laughing at Lawrence's idea of winning a Super Bowl in Seattle, writing: "This what rejection and envy look like! This some clown s---!"
While Lawrence responded stating he told the truth, he answered that message perfectly with his performances throughout the season - lifting the first Super Bowl trophy of his career.
Now, he is set to retire after the 2026 season, having came very close to walking away this summer.
He told Yahoo Sports: "This will be my last year. It was a tough process. 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."
DeMarcus Lawrence #0 of the Seattle Seahawks speaks with the media during Super Bowl LX Opening Night on February 2, 2026 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, CA
Lawrence will return for one more year(Image: Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Lawrence had six sacks with the Seahawks last season, as well as 39 quarterback pressures and three forced fumbles.
After his back-and-forth messaging with Parsons on loyalty to the Cowboys, the latter was traded after failing to come to terms with the team on an extension. Parsons was dealt to the Green Bay Packers.
The Cowboys have not made Super Bowl in over 30 years at this point, with the Seahawks overcoming the odds to lift the Lombardi Trophy last year.
Lawrence joined the team as a large part due to British NFL coach Aden Durde, who is the Seahawks' defensive coordinator. Durde coached the Cowboys defensive line for multiple years between 2021-23 and has a close relationship with Lawrence.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) celebrates with defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) after making a sack during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 10, 2023, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) celebrates with defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) after making a sack during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 10, 2023, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.(Image: Getty)
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The Seahawks rank amongst the favorites to make it back to the Super Bowl this year in the NFC bracket, but would face stiff competition from the likes of the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles.
In the AFC, it remains fairly wide open. Many are waiting and watching to see what the Kansas City Chiefs can muster up after an unusually poor 2025 season.
The Chiefs missed out on playoff football, and saw its franchise quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, suffer ACL and LCL tears. However, Mahomes is back in training camp and sprinting to make the Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos next month.