NFL Stars Share Their Love for Anime and Manga

From the Green Bay Packers’ Jamaal Williams to the New Orleans Saints’ Cameron Jordan, many NFL players are avid fans of anime and manga.

DeMarcus Lawrence, defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys and a four-time Pro Bowl champion, is one of the most passionate anime enthusiasts in the league. He even designed custom anime-inspired cleats and presented at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards.

Polygon had the opportunity to chat with Lawrence about his love for anime, where he expressed his recent enjoyment of the series Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation. The anime’s theme of reincarnation resonated with Lawrence’s personal journey of aspiring to become a professional football player.

“Just the concept of getting another chance at life,” Lawrence explained. “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.”

Building an Anime Dream Team

When asked which anime characters he would draft into the NFL, Lawrence didn’t hesitate to name his fantasy team’s key players: Goku and Vegeta.

Lawrence envisioned a lineup that included Goku as the quarterback and Vegeta as the middle linebacker, citing the need for their Super Saiyan powers in high-pressure fourth-quarter situations.

Expanding beyond the Dragon Ball universe, Lawrence selected Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen as a wide receiver, Gabimaru from Hell’s Paradise as the other wide receiver, and Baki Hanma from Baki Hanma as the running back.

While his anime dream team may seem unstoppable, Lawrence humorously admitted that he wouldn’t dare face off against them on the field.