Leading up to the Seahawks' Week 10 game against the Cardinals, outside linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence said he liked that winter is coming, bringing dark afternoons to Seattle.
Asked why, he responded, "Because that's the way I like to play defense. I'm trying to turn the lights off on every offense. Now y'all got living proof of how it is to be on the dark side."
A few days later, Lawrence made sure the Cardinals offense got to experience that dark side, returning two fumbles for touchdowns as the Seahawks rolled to a 44-22 win.
And for that memorable performance, Lawrence, who also had four tackles, a tackle for loss, half a sack and three quarterback hits, was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Lawrence is the first Seahawks player to win Player of the Week honors this season, though receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. The Seahawks had two players named Defensive Player of the Week last season, safety Coby Bryant in Week 12 and defensive lineman Leonard Williams in Week 13.
This is the second career Player of the Week selection for Lawrence, who also won it in 2017 as a member of the Cowboys. Lawrence has been a great addition to the Seahawks defense since signing as a free agent after an 11-year career in Dallas that included four Pro-Bowl selections, and against the Cardinals he joined a very rare club as a player to score twice on fumble returns in one game.
With those two touchdowns, the third and fourth of his NFL career, Lawrence became just the fourth player in league history to return two fumbles for touchdowns in the same game, joining Jeremy Chinn (2020), Fred Evans (1948) and Al Nesser (1920) on that list.
Making those plays even more unique is that both fumbles were forced on sacks by linebacker Tyrice Knight, who with two sacks, two forced fumbles, eight tackles and three tackles for loss, would have also been a worth choice for Player of the Week honors.
"I couldn't believe that D-Law got the second," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. "I was like, 'Holy crap. It's him again.' The way that he attacked the ball, T-Knight is just awesome. Haven't forced any fumbles this year on defense and got two today. It's awareness, just taking advantage of those opportunities. It was awesome."
Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence has made an immediate impact in his first season in Seattle, winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week in for his two-touchdown performance vs. Arizona. Check out the top shots of Lawrence from the 2025 season so far.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the 49ers in Week 1.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the 49ers in Week 1.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the 49ers in Week 1.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the 49ers in Week 1.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the 49ers in Week 1.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Steelers in Week 2.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Steelers in Week 2.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Saints in Week 3.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Saints in Week 3.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Cardinals in Week 4.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Jaguars in Week 6.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Texans in Week 7.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Texans in Week 7.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Texans in Week 7.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Texans in Week 7.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Texans in Week 7.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Commanders in Week 9.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) at the Commanders in Week 9.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) vs. the Cardinals in Week 10.
