Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Marshawn Lynch

Discover the career path of Marshawn Lynch, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Marshawn Lynch, nicknamed "Beast Mode," is a former NFL running back who played for 12 seasons. He is most known for his time with the Seattle Seahawks. Lynch, raised in Oakland, California, excelled at the University of California, becoming an All-American. Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2007, he played three seasons there before being traded to Seattle in 2010, where he became a key player and fan favorite.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2002: First Bills Running Back to the Pro Bowl

In 2008, Marshawn Lynch was the first Bills running back to head to the Pro Bowl since Travis Henry in 2002.

2003: Oakland Tech Season

In his 2003 season at Oakland Tech, Marshawn Lynch rushed for 1,722 yards and 23 touchdowns in the regular season and an additional 375 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in the postseason, earning All-American honors and San Francisco East Bay Player of the Year.

2004: Freshman Year at Cal

In 2004, as a true freshman, Marshawn Lynch was the primary backup, contributing with 628 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, plus 147 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

2005: Starting Running Back

In 2005, Marshawn Lynch became the starting running back for the Golden Bears, amassing 1,246 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, earning MVP honors at the Las Vegas Bowl despite missing two games due to injury.

December 28, 2006: Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

On December 28, 2006, Marshawn Lynch played his final game for Cal, rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl victory over Texas A&M and shared the Co-Offensive Player of the Game award.

2006: Played for the Golden Bears

From 2004 to 2006, Marshawn Lynch played for the Golden Bears football team at the University of California, Berkeley.

2006: Starts Fam1st Family Foundation

In 2006, Lynch started his own charitable foundation called the Fam1st Family Foundation to give back to his hometown of Oakland, California.

January 2, 2007: Entered the NFL Draft

On January 2, 2007, Marshawn Lynch announced he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2007 NFL draft.

April 28, 2007: Drafted by the Buffalo Bills

On April 28, 2007, Marshawn Lynch was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft and agreed to a six-year contract.

2007: Successful Rookie Season

In 2007, Marshawn Lynch finished a successful rookie season with 1,115 total rushing yards and seven touchdowns, earning him a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team.

2007: Drafted by Buffalo Bills

In 2007, Marshawn Lynch was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the NFL draft.

2007: Increased Receiving Yards

In 2008, Marshawn Lynch posted 300 receiving yards on 47 receptions, including a receiving touchdown, compared to 184 yards on 18 receptions for the 2007 season.

2008: Reunion with Justin Forsett

In 2008, Lynch reunited with former Cal roommate and fellow running back Justin Forsett, a seventh-round draft pick of the Seahawks.

2008: Pro Bowl Selection

In 2008, Marshawn Lynch finished the season with 1,036 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns and was selected to his first Pro Bowl, replacing injured Chris Johnson.

2008: Involved in Buffalo's Passing Game

In 2008, Marshawn Lynch was expected to be more involved in Buffalo's passing game, according to the Bills' new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert.

2009: Lynch played and was replaced.

Beginning November 29, 2009, Marshawn Lynch was replaced as the Bills' starting running back by Fred Jackson and finished the season with 450 yards on 120 carries with two rushing touchdowns.

2010: Joined Seattle Seahawks

During the 2010 season, Marshawn Lynch joined the Seattle Seahawks after playing three full seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

2010: Touchdowns and Rushing Yards

In the 2010 season, Marshawn Lynch had 202 carries for 737 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

January 8, 2011: "Beast Quake" Run

On January 8, 2011, during his first career playoff game against the New Orleans Saints, Marshawn Lynch had a memorable 67-yard touchdown run, breaking nine tackles, which became known as the "Beast Quake" due to the seismic activity caused by celebrating fans.

2011: Career Best Season

During the 2011 season, Marshawn Lynch had a career best season, rushing for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had his first 1,000-yard season since 2008.

March 4, 2012: Signed Four-Year Contract with Seahawks

On March 4, 2012, Marshawn Lynch signed a four-year, $31 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

2012: Playoff Appearance

During the 2012 season, the Seattle Seahawks finished with an 11-5 record and made the playoffs.

2012: Draft Pick

On October 5, 2010 Marshawn Lynch was traded to the Seattle Seahawks and as a result, the Bills received a conditional pick in the 2012 NFL draft, which would become a fifth-round pick.

2013: Featured in Red Bull's "Athletes Give Back" campaign

In 2013, Lynch was featured in Red Bull's campaign "Athletes Give Back" for putting together a successful food drive for his hometown.

2013: Significant Contributor for the Seahawks

In the 2013 season, Lynch rushed for 1,257 yards and 12 touchdowns, tying with Jamaal Charles for the league lead in rushing touchdowns, and the Seahawks finished with a 13-3 record, earning a first-round bye in the playoffs.

January 28, 2014: Official deal with Skittles announced

On January 28, 2014, an official deal between Lynch and Skittles was announced, which included personal compensation and donations to his Fam First Foundation for each touchdown scored in Super Bowl XLVIII.

July 24, 2014: Contract Restructure Discussions

On July 24, 2014, it was announced that Marshawn Lynch would hold out of Training Camp while he waited for a restructured contract from the Seahawks; new terms were quickly agreed upon.

2014: Returns Lost Wallet

In 2014, Lynch found a lost wallet outside Seattle at a gas station and returned it to the owner.

2014: First Super Bowl Victory

In 2014, Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks secured their first Super Bowl victory by defeating the Denver Broncos 43-8; Lynch rushed for 39 yards and one touchdown in the game.

2014: Successful Season Performance

In the 2014 season, Marshawn Lynch had multiple standout performances, including 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the season opener and a game with 140 rushing yards and four touchdowns against the New York Giants.

March 6, 2015: Contract Extension with Seahawks

On March 6, 2015, Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks agreed to a 2-year, $24 million contract extension.

April 2017: Inspired to Come out of Retirement

In early April 2017, after sitting out the 2016 season, it was reported Lynch had agreed to terms with his hometown Oakland Raiders and that he was inspired to come out of retirement by the team's impending move to Las Vegas.

April 26, 2017: Traded to Oakland Raiders

On April 26, 2017, Marshawn Lynch was officially traded to the Oakland Raiders along with Seattle's sixth-round draft pick.

September 19, 2017: Launch of Beast Mobile cellphone service

On September 19, 2017, Lynch launched his own ad-supported Beast Mobile cellphone service, allowing subscribers to pay their phone bill by engaging in ads and offers.

2017: 10,000 Rushing Yards

During the regular season finale of 2017, Marshawn Lynch became the 31st player in NFL history to rush for over 10,000 rushing yards.

2017: Return to the NFL with the Oakland Raiders

In 2017, Marshawn Lynch returned to the NFL to play for his hometown team, the Oakland Raiders.

2018: Contract details with the Oakland Raiders

In 2018, 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 with the Oakland Raiders.

2018: Beast Mode Ripper BMX Bike Created

In 2018, Todd Lyons partnered with Marshawn Lynch to create a Beast Mode Ripper, an adult-sized BMX bike with customized Beast Mode branding as a 2018 SE Bicycle.

2018: Season with the Oakland Raiders

Marshawn Lynch returned to the Raiders' backfield for the 2018 season, recording rushing touchdowns in the first three games. He finished the 2018 season with 90 carries for 376 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in six games and planned to retire again.

December 23, 2019: Return to the Seahawks

On December 23, 2019, Marshawn Lynch returned to the NFL, signing with the Seattle Seahawks alongside former teammate Robert Turbin.

2019: Reunited with the Seahawks

In 2019, Marshawn Lynch reunited with the Seattle Seahawks for their last regular season game and playoff run.

2019: Playoff Touchdowns Record

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. He is tied with Terrell Davis and John Riggins with 12.

January 12, 2020: Possible Return for the Seahawks

During a postgame interview on January 12, 2020, Lynch was asked if he'll return for the Seahawks in the 2020 NFL season and said "We'll see what's happening."

December 2020: Interest in Super Bowl Contender

In a December 2020 interview with Conan O'Brien, Lynch said that teams had expressed interest in signing him and that he was willing to sign with a team that is a Super Bowl contender.

October 2021: Lynch named NFLPA brand chief ambassador

In October 2021, Lynch was named the first NFLPA brand chief ambassador.

2021: Lynch Launches Dodi Blunts

In 2021, Lynch launched a line of cannabis products under the brand name Dodi Blunts, distributing blunts to dispensaries throughout the Bay Area, with a portion of the proceeds going to Last Prisoner Project.