A championship window can close almost overnight in the NFL. No one feels that more acutely than a veteran keenly aware of his own legacy. DeMarcus Lawrence, after 11 long seasons of being a Cowboys stalwart, made a choice that was anything but obvious. Lawrence was staring down not only a fork in his football journey, but a chance to join a ready-made contender. For him, the path forward required more than just chasing rings. It meant asking what truly matters at the twilight of a storied career.

In the storm of 2025 free agency, Lawrence had what many would see as a dream scenario. The Washington Commanders, fresh off a stunning 12-5 season and a deep playoff run, called Lawrence. “Had an opportunity to, you know, sign with Washington. And it was like… that’s a champi

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