DeMarcus Lawrence and Leonard Williams have been in the NFL, combined, for about two dozen years. They’ve been selected to six total Pro Bowls between them.
The 33-year-old Lawrence spent 11 years before this one as a defensive end with the Dallas Cowboys, on NFC East-champion defenses, including one that led the league in creating turnovers.
Williams, 31, has played for New York’s Jets and Giants, on defenses ranked in the top dozen in the NFL.
They both say this Seahawks defense is the best one they’ve played on.
“Yes, I mean that wholeheartedly,” Lawrence said.
“But I feel it’s another level that we can reach. You all haven’t seen the best of us, and we’re going to capitalize on our opportunities.”
Seattle’s defense just pitched its first shutout in 10 years last weekend, against Minnesota. It was only the fourth shutout in the entire NFL this season. The Seahawks are second in the league in rushing defense (88.8 yards against per game), third in points allowed (18 per game) and fourth in sacks (40).
While one of the league’s least-frequent blitzing defense, Seattle’s front four with Lawrence, Williams and co-team sack leader Byron Murphy are why the Seahawks are on pace to finish this 17-game regular season with 57 sacks. That would be the second-most in team history. The 1985 Seahawks had 61, in 16 games.
Wednesday, The News Tribune asked Williams where this Seattle defense ranks on all he’s played on, back to New York and in college for USC.
“It’s the best defense I’ve played on,” Williams said. “I’ve played on some talented defenses, I would say, played alongside some great D-linemen…
“I think what makes this team and defense so special and unique is just our connection. That’s the driving force of everything.”
Including the Seahawks’ push to its first NFC West championship since 2020.
The Seahawks (9-3) head to Atlanta this weekend to play the Falcons (4-8), controlling their ability to win the division. The Rams (9-3) lost last weekend at Carolina, while Seattle was blanking Minnesota means if the Seahawks, victors in six of their last seven games, win their final five they will win the West. That’s no matter what Los Angeles and San Francisco (9-4) do.
The Rams and Seahawks meet Dec. 18 at Lumen Field, in a rematch of L.A.’s 21-19 home win late last month. Seattle plays at San Francisco to end the regular season early next month.
Differences in Seattle’s 2025 defense
Last season, Williams was largely starring by himself on Seattle’s defensive line. He had 11 sacks and earned the second Pro Bowl selection of his career.
Murphy was a rookie last year, a first-round draft choice not even playing half the team’s defensive snaps in 2024. Jarran Reed was a locker-room leader and force on the interior of the D-line, as he is this year. But Reed has been on injured reserve for much of this season after wrist surgery. He returned to practice Wednesday.
So what are the primary differences between the 2024 Seahawks defensive line and this season’s that is stuffing the run, plus has been in the top four in pressure rates on quarterbacks (41%) without Seattle blitzing much this season?
1. Murphy has emerged as a force against the run and a pass-rusher supreme at tackle Coach Mike Macdonald’s defense can’t afford to take him off the field.
2. Lawrence.
Playing 57% of defensive snaps, he has five sacks in 11 games. That’s two fewer than Williams and Murphy each have. Lawrence’s presence and threat to beat blockers keep offensive game plans and linemen from being able to double-team Williams as much as they did in the previous two seasons Williams was a Seahawk.
Last month in a home game against Arizona, Lawrence picked up two fumbles by Kyler Murray, both forced by hits blitzing linebacker Tyrice Knight put on the Cardinals quarterback, and returned both for touchdowns. He became the fourth player in NFL history with two defensive touchdowns in one game, in Seattle’s 44-22 rout of Arizona. He was the NFC defensive player of the week for that performance.
Last weekend he made two plays against the Vikings Macdonald is still raving about.
On a fourth down near the goal line with the Seahawks leading 3-0 in the second quarter, Lawrence looped outside to his left as Minnesota rookie quarterback Max Brosmer was running that way to pass. Lawrence grabbed the QB near his shoulders and was swinging him down for a drive-ending sack when Brosmer recklessly chucked the ball underhanded. The “pass” went directly to Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones. Jones returned it 85 yards for the first touchdown of his five-year NFL career.
Lawrence’s play was essentially a 14-point swing. Instead of Minnesota going ahead 7-3, Seattle led 10-0, and went on to a 26-0 victory.
“While I was in the process of bringing him down, I’m thinking he was throwing it out of bounds,” Lawrence said. “But, when I heard the crowd roar I am trying to find out what was going on, and I just see E.J. just chucking right beside me. I got up and ran and celebrated.”
But Lawrence’s play that’s had Macdonald featuring it in team meetings this week came in the second half.
Following Brosmer’s one long completion of Sunday’s game, 29 yards to tight end T.J. Hockenson in the third quarter, Vikings running back Aaron Jones caught a short pass. Lawrence had fallen to the turf pass rushing. As Jones ran after his catch to the Seattle 40-yard line, Lawrence got to his feet and sprinted back up the field toward his own goal line. He slammed his arms down into the unaware Jones’ side and stripped the ball from behind.
“That’s the type of culture and DNA that we’re just building around here right now. Regardless of what year you are, regardless of where you play on the line or where you play on the field, we’re going to play with a certain want to and drive,” Williams said Wednesday. “He was completely out of that play. And he’s shown everyone else on the team that he’s a year 12 guy and he’s still chasing down the ball, so everyone can do it.”
Teammate Ty Okada recovered the fumble to end Minnesota’s longest sustained drive of the game, 28 net yards. Seattle’s lead stayed 16-0.
“Probably my new favorite play of all time,” Macdonald said. “Just an incredible, incredible play. I just saw a blur coming down and just violently attack the ball.
“It’s been such a point of emphasis, and to see him do that was really great.”
It fits what Lawrence has been for the Seahawks.
How DeMarcus Lawrence got to Seattle
Lawrence has been this good since his first practices for Seattle, back in May.
Macdonald, 12 years into NFL coaching, says he is the best practice player he’s ever seen. He marvels at how Lawrence takes the coaches’ intent in a drill and the game plan and is so exacting in executing them on the field. That’s had a domino effect on the entire defense, creating better, more efficient practices than Seattle’s had in years.
So how did a guy this good, this influential to making the Seahawks’ one of the NFL’s best defenses again get here?
Lawrence was relatively unheralded on the free-agent market last spring, given his tenure and status as a four-time Pro Bowl end with the Cowboys. Dallas let him go into free agency after he sustained a unique, Lisfranc fracture in the top middle of his foot in the fall of 2024. His last season, and 11 years playing for the Cowboys, ended in week four last year.
He said this spring he wanted to win a Super Bowl and, upon departing Dallas where his family still lives, “I know for sure I’m not going to win a Super Bowl there.”
By March, the Seahawks were convinced Lawrence was healed and primed to return to his Pro Bowl level of defensive-line play. They signed him for three years, beyond his 36th birthday, for up to $42 million with $18 million guaranteed. It was a longer-than-usual investment for 33-year olds in the league coming off a major injury.
Man, is that decision paying off handsomely right now for Seattle.
“Our medical staff did a great job of saying that he was ready to roll,” Macdonald said this week, “and he did a great job being in great shape, training, and doing all the things. I thought we had a great plan for him to manage his workload throughout the season, as well.
“So, all hands on deck on that front.”
It’s all great so far for Lawrence and the Seahawks defense in Seattle. He credits the same togetherness Williams cites as the main factor that’s made their defense at times dominant.
“It is rejuvenating, man,” Lawrence said. “We’ve got a dope brotherhood. We are well-connected in our locker room. We fight for each other. We all love the game.
“So I’m excited to be a part of this group, and excited to go out and hunt again next week.”
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