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Marshawn Lynch is a magician. No, you say? Well, how else can you explain one man making nary a peep with his mouth, but creating a rumble so large that it registered on a seismograph with only his legs?
OK, OK, magician is probably pushing it, but Lynch has safely assumed hero status in the Pacific Northwest. His recent decision to retire- announced in classic Lynch fashion through a wordless tweet during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50- is hardly shocking, considering the physical toll of his running style. But it does bring to a close one of the more bizarre, enigmatic careers in NFL history.
The Buffalo Bills made Lynch the No. 12 overall pick out of Cal in the 2007 draft. He rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons and made the 2008 Pro Bowl. But a series of off-field incidents helped him wear out his welcome in Western New York. Enter, Seattle.
First-year coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider gladly sent fourth and fifth-round picks to Buffalo for Lynch on Oct. 5, 2010. Almost exactly three months later, Lynch unleashed the greatest postseason run in NFL history, bulldozing and stiff-arming his way through nine New Orleans Saints would-be tackles en route to a crotch-grabbing touchdown that literally shook CenturyLink Field (then Qwest Field).
Lynch sealed the win over the defending Super Bowl champions and cemented himself as the engine that would make the Seahawks go. From his first full season with Seattle in 2011 until now, no player has more than his 51 rushing touchdowns and only two have more than his 5,774 rushing yards. He made the Pro Bowl four times and his six 100-yard games in the postseason are tied for third all-time.
On and off the field, Lynch was a character. His physical style and dark helmet visor made him an intimidating presence, but he could routinely be spotted chowing down on Skittles on the sideline. Off the field, Lynch was known to rock a custom-made "Beast Mode" grill. He had no shortage of detractors that criticized his unwillingness to speak to the media, but what often goes overlooked is his commitment to help children in the Oakland area through his Fam 1st Family Foundation.
Lynch will also be remembered for a play in which he didn't touch the ball: Russell Wilson's ill-fated pass to Ricardo Lockette in the waning seconds of Super Bowl XLIX. Had he gotten the carry, Beast Mode could have possibly delivered a second Lombardi Trophy to Seattle. Seahawks fans will always lament that decision.
Still, if he never plays another down -- and with the unpredictable Lynch, it'd be unwise to completely rule out a return at some time -- his legacy in Seattle is secure. He's unlikely to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but a compelling argument can certainly be made for him. For a five-year stretch, Lynch was one of the most dominant players on one of the league's most dominant teams.
Assistant coach Tom Cable perhaps best captured Lynch's impact in a quote prior to Super Bowl XLIX: "He's not carrying the football, he's carrying his team."
That's what Beast Mode did best.
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