Marshawn Terrell Lynch was born on April 22, 1986, in Oakland, California. He was raised alongside his three siblings by his mother, Delisa Lynch, who was a former sprinter and held the 200-meter record at Oakland Technical High School—the same school Marshawn later attended.
During high school, Lynch was a standout multi-sport athlete, excelling in football, basketball, track, and wrestling. In the 2003 football season, he recorded 1,722 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in just eight games. He played a pivotal role in taking his basketball team to the state semifinals and also earned recognition in various track and field events.
He went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he majored in social welfare and played for the California Golden Bears football team. Lynch quickly rose to prominence, becoming the team's starting running back and setting multiple school records during his tenure.
Lynch entered the NFL as the 12th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, selected by the Buffalo Bills. He signed a six-year contract worth over $18 million. In his rookie season, he made headlines with a 56-yard touchdown run while rushing 29 times for 153 yards in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. His early career was periodically impacted by legal issues, including a suspension by the NFL in 2009.
In 2010, Lynch was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he reunited with former college teammate and roommate Justin Forsett. On January 8, 2011, his explosive 67-yard touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints in a playoff game earned him the nickname “Beast Mode” and led to the moment being dubbed the “Beast Quake” due to fan reaction causing minor seismic activity.
In 2011, Lynch recorded his first 1,000-yard rushing season since 2008. His efforts helped Seattle win its first Super Bowl title in 2013. In the dramatic Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, the Seahawks lost 28–24 to the New England Patriots. The decision not to hand the ball to Lynch on a crucial play near the goal line received widespread criticism. Lynch later voiced his disappointment about the play during an interview with Conan O'Brien. Despite the outcome, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Seahawks in 2015.
| Net Worth 2021: | 35 million |
