Dante Fowler Jr. on joining Seahawks: ‘I like what the standard is’

DeMarcus Lawrence may not have had to do much convincing when it came time to get his former Dallas Cowboys teammate Dante Fowler Jr. to come to the Seattle Seahawks, but he still played a part in persuading the edge rusher to sign.

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“Basically, if you want to be a part of something special, then you should come here,” Fowler said when asked about Lawrence’s pitch. “I watched him last year, and of course being with him a couple years in Dallas, you know he’s a Cowboy legend, when he left we were all watching him just because we love him so much. And it’s like he found the fountain of youth.”

The 33-year-old Lawrence started 16 games for Seattle last season and registered six sacks (his most since 2022) and a career-high two fumble recovery touchdowns. The hope is that Fowler, albeit in a slightly different role, can tap into the same success at age 32 as part of the Seahawks’ rotation in the front seven. Following a Thursday practice on the shores of Lake Washington, with the Blue Angels and bald eagles flying overhead, Fowler joined us on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy to talk about his experience so far.

“This is insane,” Fowler said with a laugh. “I have eagles in my backyard (too) and I was mesmerized.”

There was a pair of eagles fighting over a fish. Fowler couldn’t turn away.

“My jaw was dropped the whole time. People were like on canoes looking. I was like, bro, these are really bald eagles. I’m from Florida so we don’t see none of that type of stuff.”

So much about the Pacific Northwest is new, but it’s certainly not Fowler’s first time with a new team. He started 11 games for Dallas last season, his most since 2020, but he saw a surge in sacks in 2024 with Washington, a total that led the Commanders. He’s spent time in Jacksonville, Los Angeles and Atlanta, too. But he’s already noticing an environment he loves in Seattle — and while Lawrence’s case for the Seahawks might’ve been the nudge Fowler needed, coach Mike Macdonald’s personality and culture have him convinced it’s a good fit.

“I like what the standard is,” Fowler said. “The standard’s the standard. You see why they won a Super Bowl. I’m a football guy, always been playing football from a very young age. My dad’s a football coach, and my dad would love that I’m on this type of team.”

NFL fans will see a bit of what that Seahawks culture looks like on HBO’s Hard Knocks this season (the season premieres Tuesday). A teaser posted Thursday shows Mike Macdonald addressing the team at the start of filming.

Mike Macdonald just wants his guys to be themselves in front of the Hard Knocks cameras.

"I'm one of the most awkward guys in the history of America." 😂

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the @Seahawks premieres Aug 4 on @hbomax pic.twitter.com/pbhwDLwJDn

— NFL (@NFL) July 30, 2026

What was obvious about Macdonald after meeting him?

“I’ve (played under) some good coaches,” Fowler said. “Like Tom Coughlin and Dan Quinn and Sean McVay. (Macdonald) is an easygoing guy, but when you’re on the football field it’s time to work. But he’s a funny guy. We relate a little bit, socially awkward dudes, but funny and like to have a good time. But know how to flip that switch when it’s time to work and stuff like that. So I like that. I like how he has command and control over his team, and he’s a young couch, and that’s really cool to see a young coach that’s got his team in order like that.”

Hear the full Bump and Stacy conversation with the Seahawks’ Dante Fowler Jr. in the final segment of the podcast below. Catch Bump and Stacy live from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

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