The NFL’s DeMarcus Lawrence is putting together his anime football dream team

From the Green Bay Packers Jamal Williams and John Reid of the Seattle Seahawks to Cameron Jordan of the New Orleans Saints and more, the NFL is packed with players who are as passionate about anime and manga as they are about football.

DeMarcus Lawrence, defensive end of the Dallas Cowboys and four-time Pro Bowl champion, is easily one of the most avid fans around, having designed a pair of custom anime-inspired cleats and even serving as an emcee this year at the Crunchyroll Anime. Awards.

Polygon had the opportunity to speak with Lawrence from Japan to discuss his love for anime, which he was looking forward to Mushoku Tensei Unemployed Reincarnation as the series he has enjoyed most lately. For Lawrence, the anime (based on the light novel series by Rifujin after Magonote and illustrator Shirotaka) resonated with his own experience of becoming a professional footballer. Mushoku Tensei Unemployed Reincarnation focuses on the character Rudeus, who dies in the first episode of the series and is given a second chance at life when he is unexpectedly reincarnated into the body of a baby. That was a bull’s eye for the athlete.

“Just the concept of a new chance at life,” Lawrence said. “You know, I feel like when I was 13, my Lord and Savior Jesus gave me an opportunity by showing me how to navigate life and pursue my dreams, so that’s why it resonates with me.”

But which anime characters would he bring to the NFL? Lawrence immediately had a vision for his fantasy team: Goku and Vegeta.

‘I’ll go with you Dragon Ball Z Guys, first things first, because we need those Super Saiyan powers in the fourth quarter. So Goku as quarterback, Vegeta as middle linebacker.”

You could easily imagine the entire Dragon Ball crew dominating in football, but Lawrence looked to other talent pools to fill his bench.

“Yuji Itadori (from Jujutsu Kaisen) at wide receiver. Gabimaru (from The paradise of hell) at the other wide receiver, and Baki Hanma (from Baki Hanma) as walking back.”

It’s hard to argue with the sheer intimidating power of his choices. When asked if he would compete against his own team, Lawrence laughed and said, “No, I wouldn’t line up there!”