Less than 24 hours after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and celebrating winning his first Super Bowl, DeMarcus Lawrence was home in Texas celebrating the birth of his sixth child, Syenna.
"We were in there partying with T-Pain and the baby came 12 hours later," Lawrence said.
Lawrence, who played in his 12th season last year, was stressed by the overlap in the Super Bowl and the arrival date of his child.
"You can say it was stressful, but it was a blessing just to be able to have my mind set on receiving a child into this world, my last child at that," he said. "And then on top of it, put a cherry on the top and get to win a Super Bowl. I feel like that's all a man can dream of, receiving a child and a Super Bowl
After notably not being present at voluntary offseason workouts, because he was taking the time to be with his family, including a newborn and a 1-year-old, Lawrence said there was some decisions he had to make about coming back for this season.
"I kind of had my mind made up that if I won, I was done," he said. "But I kind of had a bittersweet feeling in my heart, understanding that with the type of team that we have, we should have been where we were last year. This is where the hard part begins and staying on the top."
Last season, Lawrence earned Pro Bowl honors for the fifth time ever and established himself as a leader in a new locker room. The challenge of being the best intrigued Lawrence enough for him to want to return.
"They say it's no fun when the rabbit has the gun," he said. "We're the ones with the dot on our back. So I just want to see how that feels. See the different obstacles that we can overcome. How are we going to stay together in those tough moments throughout the season and just be a part of this brotherhood once more."
He also said that the time to bask in the win of Super Bowl is enticing.
"Baby came the next day. Sunday Super Bowl. Monday baby was here. There wasn't any time to spare. That's why I got to do it again."
And Lawrence is approaching this season with the same enthusiasm he'd have as a young player. Heading into his 13th season, it is apparent that he still cares and there's no slowing down. Whether it's the way he practices or in the way he interacts with the fans getting them hype at practice.
"We got the best crowd in America," he said. "So if we're out here working, I believe they're out here working too. That's what the 12 as One is for. So just wanted to get their juices sparked, let them know that I see them being a part of everything that we do here."
