Marshawn Lynch: From College Standout to NFL Legend

Marshawn Terrell Lynch, born on April 22, 1986, is an American former professional football running back whose impactful career spanned 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Best known by his moniker "Beast Mode," Lynch left an indelible mark on the sport, particularly during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. His journey to NFL stardom began with a celebrated college career at the University of California, Berkeley, where he established himself as one of the Golden Bears' all-time greats.

Collegiate Career at California

Lynch's career at the University of California, Berkeley, from 2004 to 2006, was marked by remarkable achievements and a clear demonstration of his exceptional talent. As a true freshman in 2004, Lynch played as the primary backup to senior J. J. Arrington. In his collegiate debut against Air Force in the regular-season opener, he had seven carries for 92 yards and a touchdown in the 56-14 victory. On November 13, in the 42-12 victory over Washington, he had nine carries for 121 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to go along with a 29-yard touchdown reception. One week later, against Stanford, Lynch had 122 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

In 2005, with Arrington's graduation, Lynch stepped into the starting running back role. 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, and Robert Jordan, who wore No. 11.

The 2006 season was particularly outstanding, solidifying Lynch's status as a top college player. He was named a first-team All-American and the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. That year, he rushed for 1,356 yards, leading Cal to a share of the conference title. In his final game for Cal, Lynch ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the 45-10 victory over Texas A&M in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl on December 28, 2006.

Lynch's accomplishments at Cal are etched in the program's record books. He holds the record for the most games with 100 or more rushing yards (17). His 3,230 career rushing yards rank second in school history. He is tied for third in rushing touchdowns (29) and fourth in all-purpose yards (4,574). During his time with the Bears, the team achieved an impressive 28-9 overall record, including 18-7 in Pac-10 games. In the 2005 Las Vegas Bowl, Lynch set Cal's single-game bowl record with 194 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns.

NFL Career

Lynch's exceptional college performance paved the way for a successful NFL career. On April 28, 2007, Lynch was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft, the second running back taken. He agreed with the Bills to a six-year, $18.935 million contract. 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 the Denver Broncos. His breakout game came on November 4 against the Cincinnati 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 was expected to be more involved in Buffalo's passing game in 2008, his second season as a professional. Lynch started the 2008 season with four rushing touchdowns in his first three games against the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oakland Raiders. He was held to a season low of 16 yards rushing in a Week 9 matchup against the New York Jets on November 2. He did not break 100 yards rushing in a game until November 17 on a Monday Night Football matchup against the Cleveland Browns, when he rushed for 119. The game also marked his first receiving touchdown. Two weeks later on November 30, Lynch posted a season-high 134 rushing yards against the San Francisco 49ers. 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. He was able to stay healthy until injuring his shoulder in the second half of a Bills victory on December 21 against the Denver Broncos, during which he rushed for his eighth touchdown of the season. The injury kept him out of the Bills' season finale against the New 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. Lynch was selected to his first Pro Bowl, replacing injured Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson. This made him the first Bills running back to head to the Pro Bowl since Travis Henry in 2002.

Following his guilty plea on misdemeanor weapons charges during the 2009 off-season, Lynch met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for a disciplinary hearing. Lynch played his first game of the 2009 season against the Miami Dolphins and played the rest of the season. Beginning November 29, he was replaced as the Bills' starting running back by Fred Jackson, who had the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career.

Lynch's NFL journey included stints with the Buffalo Bills (2007-2010), Seattle Seahawks (2010-2015, 2019), and Oakland Raiders (2017-2018). His most notable success came with the Seahawks, where he became a central figure in the team's offensive dominance.

Seattle Seahawks

In 2010, Lynch was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, a move that would redefine his career and solidify his legacy. Lynch then reunited with former Cal roommate and fellow running back Justin Forsett, a seventh-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2008. Lynch started 15 games in 2011, missing only one regular-season game, on November 23 due to back problems. On November 6, against the Dallas Cowboys, Lynch had 135 rushing yards and a touchdown. On December 1, he had his best rushing game of the season with 148 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against the Philadelphia Eagles. 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 by Shaun Alexander in 2005.

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His powerful running style, elusive moves, and uncanny ability to break tackles earned him the "Beast Mode" nickname. Lynch twice led the league in rushing touchdowns during his time with Seattle. He earned five Pro Bowl selections and one first-team All-Pro selection.

Super Bowl XLVIII Victory

A defining moment of Lynch's career was his contribution to the Seahawks' Super Bowl XLVIII victory. His dominant running and crucial plays were instrumental in securing the team's first Super Bowl title.

In the second game of the 2012 season, Lynch had 122 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in the 27-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. On September 30, against the St. 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.

Lynch had a career-long 79-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16, similar to his "Beast Quake" 67-yard scoring run in the 2011 Wild Card Round against the New Orleans Saints. 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 Seahawks finished with a 12-4 record and earned a first round bye. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his career. In the Divisional Round against the Carolina Panthers, he had 59 rushing yards in the 31-17 victory. He contributed heavily to a late comeback in the NFC 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.

Super Bowl XLIX

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. In Super Bowl XLIX, where the Seahawks lost 28-24 to the New England Patriots, Lynch had 24 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, plus a catch for 31 yards. Late in the fourth quarter on a potential game-winning drive, Lynch ran the ball from the five yard line but was tackled by Dont'a Hightower at the one-yard line. 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 by Malcolm Butler. Lynch was visibly upset by the decision and left the Seahawks locker room without addressing the media.

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Comeback with the Seahawks

Lynch returned to the NFL during the final week of the 2019 regular season, signing with the Seahawks alongside former teammate Robert Turbin on December 23, 2019, after Seattle lost three running backs to injury. Lynch made his return to the Seahawks in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers on NBC Sunday Night Football. During the game, Lynch rushed 12 times for 34 yards and a touchdown in the 26-21 loss. With his three additional playoff touchdowns in the 2019-20 NFL playoffs, Lynch moved into fourth place on the all-time postseason rushing touchdowns list. During a postgame interview on January 12, 2020, Lynch was asked if he'll return for the Seahawks in the 2020 NFL season. "I mean, shoot," he responded, "We'll see what's happening." In media ahead of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was also asked about Lynch returning and said "We'll see.

Beyond the Field

Lynch's impact extends beyond his on-field achievements. He cultivated the "Beast Mode" persona into a successful brand, encompassing apparel, retail stores, and partnerships with international brands. The first Beast Mode store opened in Oakland, California on February 7, 2016, during Super Bowl 50.

Featuring his own sports bar Rob Ben's in Emeryville, California. 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. On April 8, 2015, rapper Ludacris 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 was approached by former Pro BMX rider Todd Lyons, who noticed that Lynch rode his BMX products.

Business Ventures and Ownership

Lynch has also ventured into team ownership, becoming co-owner of the Oakland Panthers of the Indoor Football League (IFL) and a team in the Fan Controlled Football League (FCF). He is also part of the ownership group of the Oakland Roots SC of the USL Championship.

In November 2018, Lynch and Richard Sherman were announced as the first two team owners in a proposed Fan Controlled Football League, a concept based on Project Fanchise's use of a mobile app for fans to call plays for the team that they had initiated with the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles of the Indoor Football League (IFL) a year earlier. The league was delayed and eventually played its first game, rebranded as just Fan Controlled Football (FCF), in February 2021 with Lynch as one of three owners of a team called the Beasts. In 2019, Lynch was also announced as co-owner of the Oakland Panthers of the Indoor Football League (IFL) alongside Roy Choi, who also owns the IFL's Cedar Rapids River Kings and San Diego Strike Force. Introduced to Choi by his brother Davonte Sapp-Lynch who plays in the IFL, Lynch saw the indoor football team as a way to keep professional football in Oakland after the departure of the Raiders for Las Vegas. Davonte Sapp-Lynch was one of the first players the Panthers signed. The Panthers were to start playing in the 2020 season, but it was cancelled after the opening week due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community Involvement and Personality

Lynch is known for his community involvement and unique personality. He embraced the Buffalo community during his time with the Bills and has been involved in various charitable activities, including food drives for his hometown. He also has an affinity for purchasing grills, saying he has been wearing the gold jewelry since his junior year in high school.

Lynch has several relatives who have also played professional football. While in Buffalo, Lynch embraced the Buffalo community, in stark contrast to former Bills running back Willis McGahee, as noted in an interview with ESPN's Kenny Mayne. In the video interview, which has become an internet sensation, Lynch talks about his love of Applebee'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. During his first stint in Seattle, Lynch once gave his backpack to junior teammate Doug Baldwin after Baldwin had inquired where he got it from. When the Seahawks defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.'s father died, Lynch was the only member of the organization who went to console him at the airport.

Skittles Obsession

Lynch frequently ate Skittles during games, a habit that started when he was in high school. 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. On December 30, 2011, he was fined $10,000 for wearing cleats featuring a Skittles pattern. On January 28, 2014, an official deal with Skittles was announced.

In April 2021, Lynch joined the ownership group of the Oakland Roots SC of the USL Championship. In the same month, he also joined the PFL as a brand ambassador and investor.

Legal Issues

Lynch has faced legal issues throughout his career, including a hit-and-run charge in 2008 and DUI arrests in 2012 and 2022.

In June 2008, Lynch pled guilty to a hit-and-run charge and had his driver's license revoked. through Buffalo's bar district when he struck a woman in the street and failed to stop. 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 a breathalyzer at the Alameda 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. On August 9, 2022, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Lynch on suspicion of DUI near the Las Vegas Strip. 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.

Media Appearances

Lynch has made various media appearances, including a memorable guest segment on Conan where he played Mortal Kombat X against Rob Gronkowski.

Four days before Super Bowl XLIX, Lynch appeared in a guest segment on Conan, playing a head-to-head game of the then-unreleased Mortal Kombat X against prospective Super Bowl opponent tight end Rob Gronkowski. Contrary to his media appearances earlier that week, Lynch appeared upbeat and loquacious, discussing his fondness of Mario Kart and explaining his touchdown celebration moves. The video went viral, was widely covered in media, and gathered about 8 million views before the Super Bowl. Lynch appeared as himself, in …

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