From the Green Bay Packers’ Jamaal Williams and the Seattle Seahawks’ John Reid to the New Orleans Saints’ Cameron Jordan and more, the NFL is packed with players who are just as passionate about anime and manga as they are about football. DeMarcus Lawrence, defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys and four-time Pro Bowl champion, is easily one of the most enthusiastic fans out there, having designed a pair of custom anime-inspired cleats and even having served as a presenter at this year’s Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Polygon had the privilege of speaking with Lawrence while he was in Japan, delving into his passion for anime. He specifically highlighted “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” as his recent favorite series. To Lawrence, this anime, adapted from the light novel series by Rifujin na Magonote and illustrator Shirotaka, deeply resonated with his own journey of aspiring to become a professional football player.
“Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” centers around Rudeus, a character who meets his demise in the series’ premiere but is granted a second chance at life through an unexpected reincarnation into a baby’s body. This narrative struck a chord with the athlete.
“The idea of a second chance at life is just profound,” Lawrence reflected. “At 13, I felt like my Lord and Savior Jesus guided me, showing me how to navigate life and chase my dreams, and that’s something deeply meaningful to me.”
As for his fantasy NFL team comprised of anime characters, Lawrence didn’t hesitate: Goku and Vegeta were his immediate picks.
“I’mma go with my Dragon Ball Z guys, first and foremost, because we’re gonna need those Super Saiyan powers in the fourth quarter. So, Goku at quarterback, Vegeta at middle linebacker.”
One could easily imagine the entire Dragon Ball crew dominating in football, but Lawrence sought other talent pools to fill out his bench.
“Yuji Itadori [from Jujutsu Kaisen] at wide receiver. Gabimaru [from Hell’s Paradise] at the other wide receiver, and Baki Hanma [from Baki Hanma] as running back.”
It’s difficult to argue with the sheer intimidating strength of his picks. When asked if he would go toe-to-toe against his own team, Lawrence laughed and said, “Nah, I wouldn’t line up out there!”
