Seahawks’ DeMarcus Lawrence to retire after 2026 season

The Seattle Seahawks defensive end will retire at the end of the upcoming season, he told Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein on Friday.

Lawrence is heading into his 13th NFL season and second in Seattle where he will help the team defend its Super Bowl title. He spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, recording 61.5 sacks.

With his wife and kids still living in Dallas, Lawrence said he even considered retiring this off-season.

"It was a tough process," Lawrence told Epstein. "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."

In his first season with Seattle, Lawrence racked up six sacks and three forced fumbles in the regular season and was a key member of a dominant Seahawks defence. He added three more forced fumbles in the playoffs to help the team hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

After a down year with the Cowboys in his final season, Lawrence made plenty of headlines upon his arrival in Seattle.

"A change in scenery is always good, but Dallas is my home," Lawrence said last off-season. "I 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, so yeah. We here."

The Seahawks kick off the 2026 NFL campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when they host the New England Patriots in a rematch of last season's Super Bowl.