SAN JOSE, Calif. — It didn’t take long for DeMarcus Lawrence to get the most anticipated question on Super Bowl LX opening night.
The first question of the night for Lawrence was about his former employer. Did he have anything to say now that he’s a victory away from the Lombardi Trophy?
The Seahawks defensive end made a viral comment about why he left the Cowboys last offseason because he knew he couldn’t win there.
“Dallas is my home,” Lawrence said last offseason after signing with Seattle. “Made my home there, my family lives there. I’m forever going to be there. But I know for sure I’m not going to win a Super Bowl there.”
Cowboys
Lawrence and the Seahawks are playing against the Patriots on Sunday for the World Title. It’s something the Cowboys haven’t done in 30 years. It’s like a drought that’s hovering over the most valued franchise in sports.
Meanwhile, Lawrence is just enjoying these moments of needing one more win to earn a Super Bowl title.
“Shoot, ain’t nothing for me to say. I did what I was supposed to do,” Lawrence said Monday night when he got that first question. “Shout out to my teammates for carrying me all this way, and we here.”
Lawrence didn’t bash the organization he played 11 years for. In fact, his defensive coordinator Aden Durde remarked about Lawrence’s offseason comment with, “you can win anywhere.”
Lawrence didn’t believe he could with the Cowboys. He had an offseason social media feud with Micah Parsons. Former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant jumped in, via text messages to Lawrence, to say if his team reached the Super Bowl, he’d buy him a Rolex watch.
“He put the comment out there, he know what he got to go do,” Lawrence said of Bryant.
Lawrence’s move to Seattle has worked out from the financial end — he signed a three-year, $32.5 million deal — and on the field. This season, Seattle’s defense finished No. 1 in the league. Lawrence had six sacks, 20 quarterback hits and he returned two fumbles for touchdowns.
It appears Lawrence is getting some vindication for his boasts about leaving Dallas for Seattle.
“At the end of the day, it wasn’t my choice,” he said.
The Cowboys were hopeful that Parsons would emerge as the leader Lawrence grew into. Not every player can become a leader, regardless of the value of their contract, and in plenty of cases, it takes time. Lawrence matured over the years and became a solid member of the Cowboys.
He was missed on and off the field, especially when Parsons was traded to Green Bay before the start of the 2025 season.
With Parsons in Green Bay, Lawrence was producing in Seattle and the Cowboys were struggling defensively. When the season was over, Dallas had allowed a franchise record 511 points. Parsons finished with 12 1/2 sacks and 27 quarterback hits before his season ended because of a torn ACL.
Lawrence?
Well, he’s sitting at a podium, not far from his head coach Mike Macdonald, who he enjoys playing for, and with teammates that value him.
Defensive tackle Leonard Williams is understanding of the vindication Lawrence feels. Williams and quarterback Sam Darnold played for the New York Jets, never reaching the postseason, only to see their careers spike playing for other teams.
“I know it means a lot for him, like me and Sam Darnold,” Williams said. “A lot of vets on this team have gone through ups and downs. He’s one of them. Every day, I tell him he chose the right place.”
And now, after calling his shot, Lawrence is on the edge of a championship.
“Just being real about the situation, understanding that football is not for long for any player and understanding my window for opportunity is closing,” said the 33-year-old Lawrence. “I don’t have long to play this game. I have to win now, and I understood what Seattle was building up here, and I just wanted to be a part of it.”
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