With Seattle from 2010 to 2015, Lynch twice led the league in rushing touchdowns while extending his Pro Bowl selections to five and receiving one first-teamAll-Pro selection. He also helped the team win their firstSuper Bowl title inSuper Bowl XLVIII. HisBeast Quake touchdown during the2010–11 NFL playoffs, which saw him rush for 67 yards while breaking nine tackles, is considered one of the greatest runs in NFL history.
Lynch grew up inOakland, California, with three older siblings. He was raised by his mother, Delisa, who once held a 200-meter track record atOakland Technical High School. Lynch started playing youth football in Oakland at a young age.[4]
At Oakland Tech, Lynch was a four-sport star for the Bulldogsfootball,basketball, track, andwrestling teams.[8] In his 2003 season, Lynch amassed 1,722 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in only eight regular-season games and an additional 375 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in two postseason games.[9][10] He was voted aPrepStar and SuperPrep All-American and was also voted the San Francisco East Bay Player of the Year.[11] Inbasketball, he played on the Oakland Tech's team alongside future Cal starLeon Powe.[12] Lynch helped lead his team to the state semi-finals. As an athlete in the Bay Area, Lynch befriended and often played against film director and writerRyan Coogler; who also grew up in the same part of Oakland as Lynch.[13]
In addition to football, Lynch excelled intrack and field, where he competed mainly as a sprinter, but also in jumping events. He recorded a personal-best time of 10.94 seconds in the100-meter dash as a senior, while also posting top-leaps of 1.94 meters (6 ft, 4 in) in thehigh jump and 6.38 meters (20 ft, 10 in) in thelong jump.[14]
As a true freshman in2004 at University of California Berkeley, Lynch was the primary backup to seniorJ. J. Arrington.[20] In his collegiate debut againstAir Force in the regular-season opener, he had seven carries for 92 yards and a touchdown in the 56–14 victory.[21] On November 13, in the 42–12 victory overWashington, he had nine carries for 121 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with a 29-yard touchdown reception.[22] One week later, againstStanford, Lynch had 122 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. In addition, he threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Burl Toler in the 41–6 victory.[23] Overall, Lynch carried the ball 71 times for 628 yards with eight rushing touchdowns and 147 yards on 19 receptions and two receiving touchdowns in his freshman season.[24]
In2005, Arrington had graduated and Lynch became the starting running back. Lynch wore jersey No. 24 his freshman year but switched to No. 10, his high school number. This switch placed him in sequence with his cousins Virdell Larkins, who wore No. 9, andRobert Jordan, who wore No. 11. Lynch and his cousins were teammates at Cal.[25] Lynch started off the season strong with 24 carries for 147 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 41–3 victory overSacramento State.[26] Almost a month later, on October 1, he had 107 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in a 28–0 victory overArizona.[27] The next week, he had 135 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 47–40 loss toUCLA.[28] On October 22, againstWashington State, he had 160 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 42–38 loss.[29] In the next game, a 27–20 loss toOregon, he had 189 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[30] In the regular-season finale against theStanford Cardinal, he had 123 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 27–3 victory.[31] In the2005 Las Vegas Bowl, Lynch ran for 194 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries and was named MVP againstBYU.[32] Even though he missed two games due to a hand and finger injury, he still amassed 1,246 rushing yards with 10 rushing touchdowns on 196 carries and 125 receiving yards on 15 receptions.[33] He finished fifth in the Pac-10 in rushing yards and sixth in rushing touchdowns.[34]
In the2006 preseason, Lynch earned a spot on the watchlist for theMaxwell Award, was named 8th best player in the nation bySports Illustrated, and earned several preseason All-American accolades. In the spring, he joined the Cal Track & Field team, and he competed in the60-meter dash, recording a personal-best time of 6.98 seconds at the 2006 MPSF Championships.[35]
On July 22, 2006, the Cal football program officially launched the campaign for Lynch to win the 2006Heisman Trophy with the opening of the website Marshawn10.com, featuring Lynch's highlights from 2004 to 2006.[36]
In the second game of the season, againstMinnesota, Lynch had 139 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 42–17 victory.[37] In the next game againstPortland State, he finished with 112 rushing yards and a touchdown in the 42–16 victory.[38] In the following game againstArizona State, he had 17 carries for 124 yards in the 49–21 victory.[39] In the next game, againstOregon State, he posted his fourth consecutive 100-yard game with 106 yards and a touchdown in the 41–13 victory.[40] After a 50-yard performance in the 45–24 victory over theOregon Ducks, he had 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the 21–3 victory overWashington State.[41][42] In the next game againstWashington, he had another stellar game with 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning overtime touchdown, in the 31–24 victory.[43] He later called the run his favorite career highlight, after which Lynch spontaneously drove around the football field in an injury cart, pretending toghost ride.[44] Lynch was named to the 2006 All-Pac-10 team First-team for his performance in the 2006 season.[45] Lynch was also named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 and an AFCA (Coaches')All-America in 2006.[46]
In his final game for Cal, Lynch ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the 45–10 victory overTexas A&M in thePacific Life Holiday Bowl on December 28, 2006. He shared the Co-Offensive Player of the Game award with teammate, quarterbackNate Longshore.[47][48] He finished his final season with Golden Bears with a Pac-10 leading 1,356 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, 34 receptions, 328 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns.[49][50]
Lynch holds the Cal school record for most 100-yard rushing games with 17.[51]
On January 2,2007, Lynch announced he would forgo his senior season and enter the2007 NFL draft.[52]
On April 28, 2007, Lynch was selected by theBuffalo Bills with the 12th overall pick in the first round of theNFL draft, the second running back taken.[55] He agreed with the Bills to a six-year, $18.935 million contract. The deal included a $3 million signing bonus and contained $10.285 million in total guarantees.[56]
Lynch entered the NFL as the starter at running back for the Bills. In his first career regular-season game on September 9, he gained 90 yards on 19 carries and scored his first touchdown in a 14–15 loss to theDenver Broncos.[57] His breakout game came on November 4 against theCincinnati Bengals. Lynch's success on the ground was instrumental in keeping the touted Cincinnati offense on the sidelines, as he rushed 29 times for 153 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown run. Lynch also completed a touchdown pass to tight endRobert Royal, the first touchdown pass completed by a Bills non-quarterback since running backJoe Cribbs in1981.[58][59]
Lynch injured his ankle the following week against theMiami Dolphins and missed the next three games.[60] He returned to play on December 9 for the Bills' second game against the Miami Dolphins that season, rushing for 107 yards and fumbling for the first time in his NFL career.[61] The game marked the first time the Bills' offense produced two 100-yard rushers since 1996, asFred Jackson also rushed for 115 yards.[62] Lynch went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark on December 23 against theNew York Giants, scoring a touchdown in the 21–38 loss, which resulted in the Giants clinching a playoff berth.[63] This made Lynch the fourth Bills rookie to break the 1,000-yard mark, and the first sinceGreg Bell in1984.[64] He closed out the regular season with 105 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards against thePhiladelphia Eagles.[65] He finished a successful rookie season with 1,115 total rushing yards and seven touchdowns.[66] He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team for the 2007 season.[67]
Lynch was expected to be more involved in Buffalo's passing game in 2008, his second season as a professional. The Bills' newoffensive coordinatorTurk Schonert had stated a number of times that he anticipated Lynch "being in on third down a lot more" this season, citing Lynch's inexperience as a reason he was not very involved in the 2007 season.[68]
Lynch started the2008 season with four rushing touchdowns in his first three games against theSeattle Seahawks,Jacksonville Jaguars, andOakland Raiders.[69][70][71] He was held to a season low of 16 yards rushing in a Week 9 matchup against theNew York Jets on November 2.[72] He did not break 100 yards rushing in a game until November 17 on aMonday Night Football matchup against theCleveland Browns, when he rushed for 119. The game also marked his first receiving touchdown.[73] Two weeks later on November 30, Lynch posted a season-high 134 rushing yards against theSan Francisco 49ers.[74] Lynch went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season on December 14 in a rematch against the Jets when he rushed for 127 yards.[75] He was able to stay healthy until injuring his shoulder in the second half of a Bills victory on December 21 against theDenver Broncos, during which he rushed for his eighth touchdown of the season.[76] The injury kept him out of the Bills' season finale against theNew England Patriots. Lynch finished the 2008 season with 1,036 yards rushing and eight rushing touchdowns. He posted 300 receiving yards on 47 receptions, including a receiving touchdown, compared to 184 yards on 18 receptions for the 2007 season.[77] Lynch was selected to his firstPro Bowl, replacing injuredTennessee Titans running backChris Johnson.[78] This made him the first Bills running back to head to the Pro Bowl sinceTravis Henry in 2002. Lynch was initially the first alternate.[79]
Lynch carries the ball against theNew York Jets in October 2009
Following his guilty plea on misdemeanor weapons charges during the 2009 off-season, Lynch met withNFL CommissionerRoger Goodell for a disciplinary hearing. Lynch had been arrested inCulver City, California, for having a gun in his backpack in the trunk of a car he was occupying, a crime in California.[80] On April 9, the NFL announced that Lynch would be suspended for the Bills' first three games for violations of the NFL's personal conduct policy.[81] Lynch appealed the league's suspension on May 14 in an attempt to have it reduced or nullified, only to have it upheld by Goodell later on August 3.[82] When interviewed on the topic, Lynch has said that he was not surprised when the suspension was upheld and that he loves playing too much and will try to keep himself out of situations in which there is a risk of being suspended.
Lynch played his first game of the2009 season against theMiami Dolphins and played the rest of the season.[83] Beginning November 29, he was replaced as the Bills' starting running back byFred Jackson, who had the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. Lynch finished the season with 450 yards on 120 carries with two rushing touchdowns and did not break 100 rushing yards in a single game for the first time in his career.[84]
Lynch suffered an ankle sprain in the Bills' preseason opener against theWashington Redskins and was expected to be out for three to four weeks.[85] He started three games for the Bills before being traded to theSeattle Seahawks on October 5 for two draft picks, a fourth-round pick in the2011 NFL draft and a conditional pick in the2012 NFL draft,[86] which would become a fifth-round pick.[87]
Lynch then reunited with former Cal roommate and fellow running backJustin Forsett, a seventh-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2008. Lynch scored his first touchdown of the season with the Seahawks on October 17 on a 1-yard run against theChicago Bears.[88] On December 5, he scored three touchdowns against theCarolina Panthers.[89] Lynch had 202 carries for 737 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns during the 2010 season.[90]
In his first career playoff game, against theNew Orleans Saints on January 8, 2011, Lynch had a 67-yard touchdown run in which he broke nine tackles and with one arm threw SaintscornerbackTracy Porter to the ground.[91][92] This run has become known locally in Seattle as the "Beast Quake".[93] The play gets its name from Marshawn Lynch's nickname, "Beast Mode", and the fact that, during and after the play, movement from fans jumping in celebration was so intense that it registered on aseismograph 100 yards from thestadium.[94] In the Divisional Round against the Chicago Bears, he was limited to four carries for two yards in the 35–24 loss.[95]
Lynch started 15 games in2011, missing only one regular-season game, on November 23 due to back problems. Lynch rushed for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns, both career bests and posting his first 1,000-yard season since 2008.[96] On December 1, against thePhiladelphia Eagles, he was observed receivingSkittles from a trainer to celebrate his touchdown.[97] Fans later threw Skittles onto the field after Lynch scored.[98]
On November 6, against theDallas Cowboys, Lynch had 135 rushing yards and a touchdown.[99] On December 1, he had his best rushing game of the season with 148 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles.[100] On December 18, he set the franchise record for consecutive games with a touchdown by scoring in his tenth straight game. The previous record of nine was set byShaun Alexander in 2005. Lynch would reach 11 consecutive games scoring a touchdown before the streak ended against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17.[101] Lynch led the NFL in rushing yards over the final nine weeks of the season.[102] On January 24, 2012, Lynch was added to the NFCPro Bowl roster to replaceSan Francisco 49ers running backFrank Gore.[103][104] He was ranked 94th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2012.[105]
On March 4, 2012, Lynch signed a four-year, $31 million contract with the Seahawks.[106]
In the second game of the2012 season, Lynch had 122 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 27–7 victory over theDallas Cowboys.[107] On September 30, against the St. Louis Rams, he had 118 rushing yards and touchdown in the 19–13 loss.[108] In Weeks 7–10, he posted four consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards and three consecutive games with a rushing touchdown.[109][110][111][112] In Week 14, in a 58–0 victory over theArizona Cardinals, he had 128 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.[113] In the next game, a 50–17 victory over theBuffalo Bills, he had 113 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.[114] In the penultimate game of the regular season, he had 111 rushing yards and a touchdown in a 42–13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.[115] The Seahawks finished with an 11–5 record and made the playoffs in the 2012 season.[116] In theWild Card Round against theWashington Redskins, he finished with 132 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 24–14 victory.[117] In theDivisional Round against theAtlanta Falcons, he had 46 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and 37 receiving yards in the 30–28 loss.[118]
Overall, Lynch started all 16 regular-season games, as well as the two playoff games the Seahawks were in. He accumulated 1,590 yards rushing on 315 attempts. He scored 11 touchdowns, his longest being a 77-yard touchdown run. He averaged 19.7 attempts per game and 99.4 yards per game, and over the course of the season, Lynch had an average of 5.05 yards per carry. He fumbled 4 times, and lost two of them.[119][120] Lynch was named as a First-team All-Pro and was elected into the2013 Pro Bowl as a reserve.[121][122] He was ranked as 24th best player in the league among his peers on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2013.[123]
In Week 2 of the2013 season against theSan Francisco 49ers, Lynch had 98 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 29–3 victory.[124] In a 34–28 loss to theIndianapolis Colts on October 6, he had 102 rushing yards.[125] On November 3 against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, he had 125 rushing yards in the 27–24 victory.[126] He followed that up with 145 rushing yards and a touchdown against theAtlanta Falcons.[127] In the next game against theMinnesota Vikings, he added two more rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown.[128] Overall, he was a significant contributor for the Seahawks in the 2013 season, rushing for 1,257 yards and 12 touchdowns, and recording three 100-yard games.[129] He tied withJamaal Charles for the league lead in rushing touchdowns.[130] The Seattle Seahawks finished with a 13–3 record and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs.[131][132] In theDivisional Round against theNew Orleans Saints, he had 140 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 23–15 victory.[133] In theNFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers, he had 109 rushing yards and a touchdown in the 23–17 victory.[134] He was voted to thePro Bowl for the third straight year, but had to decline the appearance due to his participation inSuper Bowl XLVIII.[135] He ended up rushing for 39 yards on 15 carries during that game, including a one-yard rushing touchdown, resulting in the team's first Super Bowl victory by defeating theDenver Broncos 43–8.[136] He was ranked 14th on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2014.[137]
Lynch with the Seahawks in 2014Lynch with theSeattle Seahawks in 2014
On July 24, 2014, former Seahawksfullback and good friendMichael Robinson announced onNFL Network's Inside Training Camp, that Lynch would hold out of Training Camp while he waited for a restructured contract from the Seahawks.[138] Lynch and the Seahawks quickly agreed to new terms for the season, and Lynch served as the starting running back for the team, ahead of backupsRobert Turbin andChristine Michael.[139]
In the2014 season opener, Lynch had 110 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a 36–16 victory over theGreen Bay Packers.[140] During Week 3 against theDenver Broncos, he completed the first overtime drive by rushing for a touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 26–20 victory over Denver in a Super Bowl rematch.[141] On November 2, against theOakland Raiders, he had 67 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 76 receiving yards.[142] In the next game against theNew York Giants, he had a stellar performance with 140 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in the 38–17 victory.[143] He scored 24 total points in the game, which was tied withJonas Gray for the most by any player in a single game in the 2014 season.[144] He continued his successful string of games with 124 rushing yards against theKansas City Chiefs in a loss the following week.[145]
Lynch had a career-long 79-yard touchdown run against theArizona Cardinals in Week 16, similar to his "Beast Quake" 67-yard scoring run in the 2011 Wild Card Round against the New Orleans Saints.[146] Four days later, Lynch was fined $11,050 by the NFL for his celebration of the score; falling back while extending the ball behind his head and grabbing his crotch. The league considered his celebration an "obscene gesture" to constitute unsportsmanlike conduct.[147] Lynch shared the league lead in rushing touchdowns for the second consecutive season, this time sharing withDeMarco Murray.[130]
The Seahawks finished with a 12–4 record and earned a first round bye.[148] He was named to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career.[149] In theDivisional Round against theCarolina Panthers, he had 59 rushing yards in the 31–17 victory.[150] He contributed heavily to a late comeback in theNFC Championship against the Green Bay Packers in a rematch of the season-opener, catching a 26-yard pass to set up one touchdown and later scoring a touchdown of his own on a 24-yard run. The Seahawks won 28–22 in overtime after trailing 19–7 with less than four minutes remaining in the game.[151] His 157 rushing yards in the game were a career postseason high for Lynch, as were his 183 total yards from scrimmage.[152]
Lynch made headlines at Super Bowl XLIX Media Day on January 27, 2015, when he held a five-minute press conference, only answering "I'm just here so I won't get fined" to every question. He has a history of unwillingness to talk to the media.[153]
InSuper Bowl XLIX, where the Seahawks lost 28–24 to theNew England Patriots, Lynch had 24 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, plus a catch for 31 yards.[154] Late in the fourth quarter on a potential game-winning drive, Lynch ran the ball from the five yard line but was tackled byDont'a Hightower at the one-yard line.[155][156] On the next offensive play of the game, the Seahawks chose to pass the ball at the one-yard line instead of running it with Lynch, and Russell Wilson's pass was intercepted byMalcolm Butler. Lynch was visibly upset by the decision and left the Seahawks locker room without addressing the media. He stated in a later interview with Conan O'Brien that he was "expecting the ball" prior to the play.[157] He was ranked ninth by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2015.[158]
On March 6, 2015, the Seahawks and Lynch agreed to a 2-year, $24 million contract extension.[159] Lynch struggled to pile up yardage early in the season but starred in Week 7 in a 20–3 win over the rivalSan Francisco 49ers, against whom he racked up 122 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.[160] Midway through the 2015 season, Lynch needed to havesports hernia surgery.[161] Lynch's backup, undrafted rookieThomas Rawls, had a 209-yard game against the 49ers in Week 11.[162]
Ahead of the SeahawksWild Card Round matchup against theMinnesota Vikings, Lynch was anticipated to make his return, but decided to stay behind in Seattle, stating that he felt that he could not play.[163] Seattle went on to win, 10–9.[164] Lynch made his return from injury against theCarolina Panthers in theDivisional Round, carrying only six times for 20 yards, and caught two passes for 15 yards in the 31–24 loss.[165]
On February 7, 2016, the day ofSuper Bowl 50, Lynch announced his retirement viaTwitter by posting a picture of his football cleats hanging from a telephone wire.[166] He subsequently became a mentor to the current college football players at Cal.[167]
After his retirement, rumors circulated about Lynch returning to the NFL.[168] In early April 2017, after sitting out the2016 season, it was reported Lynch had agreed to terms with his hometownOakland Raiders and that the Seahawks, who retained his rights even after retirement, would trade him.[169] Lynch said he was inspired to come out of retirement bythe team's impending move to Las Vegas saying that he wanted children currently growing up in Oakland to be able to see a home-grown football star play for the Raiders before the team is gone.[170]
On April 26, 2017, Lynch officially passed his physical and was traded to the Oakland Raiders along with Seattle's sixth-round draft pick for Oakland's fifth-round selection in the2018 NFL draft.[171] Lynch signed a two-year, $9 million contract with a maximum of $16.5 million; it had a $2 million bonus for 1,000 rushing yards for the season.[172][173][174]
In the Raiders' regular-season opener on the road against theTennessee Titans, Lynch finished with 18 carries for 76 rushing yards along with one reception for 16 yards in a 26–16 win.[175] On September 14, Lynch was fined $12,000 for doing an obscene gesture.[176] In Week 2 against theNew York Jets, he had his first touchdown as a Raider, which was a two-yard rush in the second quarter, in the 45–20 victory.[177] DuringThursday Night Football against theKansas City Chiefs in Week Seven, Lynch was ejected for running onto the field and shoving an official following a hit by Chiefs cornerbackMarcus Peters on Raiders quarterbackDerek Carr.[178] The next day, the NFL suspended Lynch for one game.[179] Lynch attempted to appeal, but the suspension was upheld.[180] DuringSunday Night Football against theDallas Cowboys in Week 15, Lynch confronted officials about Derek Carr not scoring while a fumble and touchback occurred; on December 21, Lynch was fined $24,309.[181]
During the regular-season finale, in a loss against theLos Angeles Chargers, Lynch became the 31st player in NFL historyto rush for over 10,000 rushing yards.[182] Overall, in the 2017 season, he finished with 207 carries for 891 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns to go along with 20 receptions for 151 receiving yards.[183]
Lynch returned to the Raiders' backfield for the2018 season opener under new head coachJon Gruden.[184] He recorded a rushing touchdown in the first three games of the season against theLos Angeles Rams,Denver Broncos, andMiami Dolphins, all losses for the Raiders.[185][186][187] In Week 4, he recorded 20 carries for 130 rushing yards in the 45–42 overtime victory over theCleveland Browns.[188] On October 22, Lynch was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury.[189] Overall, he finished the 2018 season with 90 carries for 376 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in six games.[190] After the 2018 season, Lynch's plans were to not play football again and retire.[191]
Lynch returned to the NFL during the final week of the2019 regular season, signing with the Seahawks alongside former teammateRobert Turbin on December 23, 2019, after Seattle lost three running backs to injury.[192][193] Lynch made his return to the Seahawks in Week 17 against theSan Francisco 49ers onNBC Sunday Night Football. During the game, Lynch rushed 12 times for 34 yards and a touchdown in the 26–21 loss. After his touchdown, fans threwSkittles onto the field.[194] During the Seahawks' 17–9 win over thePhiladelphia Eagles in theWild Card Round of the playoffs, Lynch broke a tackle to score a five-yard, first half touchdown.[195] In theDivisional Round against theGreen Bay Packers, Lynch rushed 12 times for 26 yards and two touchdowns during the 28–23 loss.[196]
With his three additional playoff touchdowns in the2019–20 NFL playoffs, Lynch moved into fourth place on the all-time postseason rushing touchdowns list. He is tied withTerrell Davis andJohn Riggins with 12.[197]
During a postgame interview on January 12, 2020, Lynch was asked if he'll return for the Seahawks in the2020 NFL season. "I mean, shoot," he responded, "We'll see what's happening."[198] In media ahead of the2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Seahawks head coachPete Carroll was also asked about Lynch returning and said "We'll see. You never know."[199] Lynch was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010s Team.[200]
In a December 2020 interview withConan O'Brien, Lynch said that teams had expressed interest in signing him and that he was willing to sign with a team that is aSuper Bowl contender.[201]
The nickname "Beast Mode" became a popular way to refer to Lynch and his style of play.[233][234][235] While the term was in use since 1996 with the debut of the animatedTransformers seriesBeast Wars, Lynch claims it developed as his nickname because one of his childhood coaches would refer to him as a beast.[236] He also claimed on an episode of thePolitickin' podcast that the nickname draws inspiration from a 2008 song of the same name byBoosie.[237]
Lynch has since developed the nickname into his Beast Mode brand, which includes an apparel line, retail store, and at least one partnership with international brands.[238] The first Beast Mode store opened inOakland, California on February 7, 2016, during Super Bowl 50.[239] On April 8, 2015, rapperLudacris released the video for his single "Beast Mode," named after Lynch, who appears in the video. Ludacris mimics Lynch's interview at the Super Bowl media day by saying "I'm just here so I won't get fined" to reporters before Lynch comes in and adds "You know why we here". Lynch makes a cameo in the video gameCall of Duty: Black Ops III.[240] He also appeared in the fourth episode of the sixth season ofTanked where they created a special fish tank for "BeastMode" first aired June 19, 2015.[241] He is featured in the gamePredator: Hunting Grounds as the playable character "Dante 'Beast Mode' Jefferson".[242]
Lynch was approached by former Pro BMX rider Todd Lyons, who noticed that Lynch rode his BMX products. Lyons, acting as the current brand manager for SE Bikes BMX company, partnered with Marshawn to create a Beast Mode Ripper: an adult-sized BMX bike with customized Beast Mode branding as a 2018 SE Bicycle.[243][244]
On September 19, 2017, Lynch launched his own ad-supported Beast Mobile cellphone service that allows subscribers to pay their phone bill by engaging in ads and offers.[245]
In 2019, Lynch was also announced as co-owner of theOakland Panthers of theIndoor Football League (IFL) alongside Roy Choi, who also owns the IFL'sCedar Rapids River Kings andSan Diego Strike Force.[248] Introduced to Choi by his brother Davonte Sapp-Lynch who plays in the IFL, Lynch saw theindoor football team as a way to keep professional football in Oakland after the departure of the Raiders for Las Vegas.[249] Davonte Sapp-Lynch was one of the first players the Panthers signed.[250] The Panthers were to start playing in the2020 season, but it was cancelled after the opening week due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. The Panthers also went dormant for the 2021 season.[251]
While in Buffalo, Lynch embraced theBuffalo community, in stark contrast to former Bills running backWillis McGahee, as noted in an interview with ESPN'sKenny Mayne. In the video interview, which has become an internet sensation, Lynch talks about his love ofApplebee's and his teammates joke that he loves chain restaurants. Lynch is also known for his frequent community involvement. In 2013, he was featured in Red Bull's campaign "Athletes Give Back" when he put together a successful food drive for his hometown.[258] During his first stint in Seattle, Lynch once gave his backpack to junior teammateDoug Baldwin after Baldwin had inquired where he got it from. When the Seahawks defensive coordinatorKen Norton Jr.'s father died, Lynch was the only member of the organization who went to console him at the airport. In 2014, he found a lost wallet outside Seattle at a gas station; Lynch went to the address to return it.[259]
Lynch frequently ate Skittles during games, a habit that started when he was in high school.[260] After Lynch was shown eating the candy during a nationally televised game on December 5, 2011,Mars offered him a two-year supply of Skittles and a custom dispenser for his locker.[261] On December 30, 2011, he was fined $10,000 for wearing cleats featuring a Skittles pattern.[262][263] On January 28, 2014, an official deal with Skittles was announced. The agreement stated that in addition to personal compensation, $10,000 would be donated to his Fam First Foundation for each touchdown he scored in Super Bowl XLVIII.[264]
Lynch also has an affinity for purchasinggrills, saying he has been wearing the gold jewelry since his junior year in high school. After the 2011 season, Lynch purchased a customized Seahawks grill in time for the 2012 season.[265]
Lynch is an entrepreneur in thecannabis industry, launching a line ofcannabis products in 2021 under the brand name Dodi Blunts.[266][267] The company distributesblunts todispensaries throughout theBay Area, with a portion of the proceeds going toLast Prisoner Project, a drug policy reform group.[268][269] Lynch says he has been a long-time consumer of cannabis and that it helped him deal with pain during his football career.[269]
In June 2008, Lynch pled guilty to a hit-and-run charge and had his driver's license revoked. Lynch was driving his 2008Porsche Cayenne at 3:30 a.m. through Buffalo's bar district when he struck a woman in the street and failed to stop. When questioned, Lynch stated, "I didn't know my car had hit anyone or anything."[276]
The California Highway Patrol arrested Lynch for driving under the influence (DUI) on July 14, 2012, after he was observed driving erratically. He was reported to have registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 on abreathalyzer at theAlameda County Sheriff's Office North County Jail in Oakland. He was incarcerated hours before hosting a youth football camp. A motion to dismiss the case was denied in November 2013, but in December the trial date was pushed back until after the NFL season. Lynch's attorney, Ivan Golde, accused the police of bending the truth and changing stories to try to convict Lynch.[277][278] The case was settled in February 2014 when Lynch pleaded guilty to a lesser charge ofreckless driving.[279] Lynch received two years of probation and a $1,033 fine, and had to attend drivers' safety classes, but did not have his license suspended.[280]
On August 9, 2022, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Lynch on suspicion of DUI near theLas Vegas Strip.[281] The police report stated that Lynch was found asleep in a parked car that had noticeable damage. Lynch was charged with driving under the influence, as well as three other crimes. He posted bail of $3,381 and was released. Lynch's lawyers disputed the charges.[282]
Lynch is known for being reluctant to talk to the media.[283] He was fined $50,000 by theNFL for refusing to talk to the media throughout the2013 NFL season,[284] which inspired fans of the Seattle Seahawks to fundraise that amount.[285] However, the fine was subsequently pulled back in an agreement that he would be fined another $50,000 if he broke the same rule,[286] after which he donated the money raised by Seahawks fans to pay his fine to charity.[287] Lynch was fined $100,000 on November 19, 2014, for once again refusing to speak to the media.[288] A few days later, after the Seahawks' win over Arizona, he answered nearly every question from reporters with "Yeah".[289] On December 21, 2014, after the second Seahawks–Cardinals game, he answered nearly every question from reporters with some version of "Thanks for asking" or "I appreciate you asking."[290] The only people to get an "extended interview" wereDeion Sanders,[291] former teammate turned analyst Michael Robinson, andMichael Silver,[292] in which they discovered his reluctance came from his upbringing and the fact that he felt that he was "forced to do something".[293] On January 27, 2015, during Super Bowl Media Day in Glendale, Arizona, Lynch continued the trend of declining to give detailed media interviews by showing up for five minutes, and answering every question with some variation of "I'm just here so I won't get fined,"[294][295] and the following day "You know why I'm here."[296]
Four days beforeSuper Bowl XLIX, Lynch appeared in a guest segment onConan, playing a head-to-head game of the then-unreleasedMortal Kombat X against prospective Super Bowl opponent tight endRob Gronkowski. Contrary to his media appearances earlier that week, Lynch appeared upbeat and loquacious, discussing his fondness ofMario Kart and explaining his touchdown celebration moves. The video went viral, was widely covered in media,[297][298][299] and gathered about 8 million views before the Super Bowl. Lynch re-appeared on the show prior toSuper Bowl LI along with Gronkowski,Tom Brady,LeGarrette Blount, andDwight Freeney playing the gameFor Honor.[300]
Lynch appeared as himself, in an episode ofBrooklyn Nine-Nine in 2017. In the episode "The Fugitive", Lynch is an eyewitness to a convict escape and goes to the station to give his statement. The show references his reluctance to talk to the press during his NFL days, and DetectiveRosa Diaz says of Lynch, "There are some vaults you just can't open." Lynch goes on to talk nonstop to the team.
The 2019 documentary filmMarshawn Lynch: A History explores the roots of Lynch's reticence.[301]
Lynch appeared as himself alongsideWill Arnett in an episode ofMurderville, a comedic murder-mystery streaming television series released byNetflix in February 2022.[302] Within the episode, Lynch improvises alongside Arnett and attempts to solve a fictional murder mystery.
Lynch played a high school teacher in the 2023 teen comedyBottoms.[304][305] In December 2023, Lynch appeared onLego Masters second installment of its "Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular", teaming up with contestant Dave Guedes.[306]
On May 13, 2024, Lynch appeared onIan's "Figure It Out" music video.[307]
In July 2024, Lynch began co-hosting thePolitickin'podcast alongside California governorGavin Newsom and sports agent Doug Hendrickson. In the podcast, they cover various topics that are mostly unrelated to politics, and interview celebrities from many different industries.[308] In an October 10 episode entitled "Mayor Beastmode", the hosts focused on the idea of Lynch running for mayor ofOakland. Lynch did not confirm his intention to run, but did indicate that he was serious in considering it.[309]
Lynch will portray a character in the third season ofEuphoria (currently filming in 2025).[231][232]
^Bergman, Barry (September 13, 2006)."Learning to love the bomb".berkeley.edu.Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. RetrievedDecember 8, 2019.
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