Marshawn Lynch

A unique piece of memorabilia from the NFL career of running back Marshawn Lynch is available at auction this week.

According to TMZ Sports, Lelands is auctioning off a letter Lynch received from the league in 2009, which informed him that he had failed a drug test:

https://twitter.com/TMZ_Sports/status/1900092806586069410

The letter, which was written by NFL medical advisor Dr. Lawrence S. Brown on April 13, 2009, informed Lynch that he had tested positive for marijuana.

Lynch, who was entering his third NFL season as a member of the Buffalo Bills at the time, was not suspended for the failed test. However, he was suspended for the first three games of the 2009 season for a separate offense related to a misdemeanor gun charge.

While Lynch entered the league as a first-round draft pick of the Bills in 2007 and made a Pro Bowl in his second season, he is best known for his time on the Seattle Seahawks.

Buffalo traded him to Seattle during the 2010 season, and he helped lead the team to the playoffs in five of the next six years. The Seahawks won a Lombardi Trophy and reached another Super Bowl during that span, and Lynch cemented his status as one of the best running backs in the league with four straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2011 through 2014.

He was known as Beast Mode for his physical running style and the punishment he dished out to defenders who attempted to tackle him, and he ran for more than 1,200 yards in each of those four Pro Bowl seasons with the Seahawks.

Lynch retired following the 2015 season but came back in 2017 and 2018 to play for his hometown Oakland Raiders. A season-ending groin injury cut his 2018 campaign short after six games, and it looked as if his NFL career was done when he didn't join a team in 2019.

However, that changed when he came out of retirement and joined Seattle prior to Week 17 in 2019 after running backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny suffered season-ending injuries.

Lynch ran for just 67 yards on 30 carries total in the final regular-season game and two playoff games, but he was a force around the goal line and scored four touchdowns.

The 38-year-old, who rushed for 10,413 yards and 85 touchdowns during his 12-year NFL career, is now enjoying retirement.

Although he was not chosen as a semifinalist, Lynch became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. He is also making some headway in Hollywood with a role in the third season of the hit HBO series Euphoria.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has been fined $19,697 after his celebration following a 64-yard touchdown catch in a 52-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

The NFL fined #Lions WR Jameson Williams $19,697 for unsportsmanlike conduct (obscene gestures) — his, uh, tribute to Marshawn Lynch last week.pic.twitter.com/70VYhAbZzr

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 23, 2024

That celebration mimicked the one ex-Seattle Seahawks great Marshawn Lynch did on his "Beast Quake" touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFC Wild Card round.

The @Seahawks' Greatest Moment: Beastquake

To vote for this as the Greatest Moment in NFL History, go to https://t.co/7lKIkPlnlj. #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/8BcegNdACL

— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2020

It's understandable why Williams was in a celebratory mood after he took a pass over the middle and sprinted down the sideline to leave all the Jaguar defenders in the dust. That in turn gave the Lions a 34-6 lead en route to the 46-point blowout win.

The fine will take a hit on Williams' wallet, although the fine is a little easier to absorb given his four-year rookie contract with $17,461,792 fully guaranteed. In addition, everything is great right now for Detroit, winners of eight straight to move to an NFL-best 9-1 on the year.

Williams has made big plays all year to help the Lions get there, catching 24 passes for 538 yards and four touchdowns on the year. He notably caught four passes for 124 yards and the aforementioned score versus Jacksonville.

Williams and the Lions will look to keep it going Sunday when they visit the Indianapolis Colts.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams emulated Marshawn Lynch's celebration after scoring a 64-yard touchdown on Sunday.

In the third quarter of the Lions' matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Williams caught a pass from Jared Goff and eventually found the end zone to give Detroit a 35-6 lead. As he scored, the third-year wideout paid tribute to the five-time Pro Bowl running back.

Lions aren't slowing down! JAMO TD 🦁

📺: #JAXvsDET on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/2pPKz1VI81

— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024

Jameson Williams 🤣 pic.twitter.com/RySj1UHSnJ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 17, 2024

Lynch utilized the celebration multiple times throughout his playing days, which included his famous 67-yard touchdown run during the Seattle Seahawks' playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints during the 2010 season.

On this day in 2011, Marshawn Lynch took a handoff vs. the Saints and the ground shook.

The Beast Quake is forever legendary.

(via @nflthrowback)pic.twitter.com/mAf2BMsHKa

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 8, 2020

Williams has thrived as the Lions' No. 2 receiver alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown, hauling in 20 receptions for 414 yards and three touchdowns entering Sunday's action. He's averaging 59.1 yards per game this season, the highest mark of his career.

The No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft looked impressive against the Jaguars' secondary, surpassing 100 yards in a single game for the first time since Detroit's Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

His contributions have helped the Lions win eight of their first nine games, owning the best record in the NFC.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame trimmed down its list of modern-era candidates for induction in 2025 to 50 players.

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas are among the first-time nominees.

The Modern-Era Player category has been reduced to 50 candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, presented by @visualedgeit. #PFHOF25

Full story: https://t.co/u2RMh0xFCa pic.twitter.com/NUdoxiZoaS

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) October 23, 2024

Manning might be perhaps the most fascinating case of anybody in the field because fans have spent years arguing over his Hall of Fame credentials.

The 43-year-old made four Pro Bowls and was never an All-Pro across his 16 seasons. His career numbers aren't overwhelming, either, when factoring in his longevity. He's 11th in total passing yards (57,023) but 21st in yards per game (241.6).

But Manning's two Super Bowl triumphs will loom large when evaluating his résumé. He was the MVP in each of those Super Bowls as well.

The Patriots were on the brink of a perfect season.

Then... madness. (Super Bowl XLII: Feb. 3, 2008) @Giants pic.twitter.com/OI52AIzSTG

— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) January 29, 2019

Maybe Manning doesn't go in on the first ballot, but the pair of titles will likely put him into the Hall of Fame at some point.

Because they have such stiff competition at their respective positions, Suggs and Thomas could be in a similar boat.

Suggs was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and hit double digits in sacks in seven of his 17 seasons. His 139 sacks are unofficially the 12th-most all time, and every player above him is enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Still, Suggs might wind up splitting some votes with fellow first-timer Luke Kuechly, James Harrison and Cornelius Bennett.

Thomas is up against fellow Legion of Boom standout Kam Chancellor at defensive back in addition to Troy Vincent, Rodney Harrison, Eric Allen and Darren Woodson. The way in which his career tailed off won't help him. The four-time All-Pro was never the same player after fracturing his tibia in 2016, though he did notch a Pro Bowl appearance in his final season (2019).

While Hall of Fame voters have historically been unkind to kickers, Adam Vinatieri is surely a safe bet to go in on the first ballot. The 51-year-old is regarded as one of the most clutch kickers ever, hitting a number of important kicks during his spells with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.

His 56 made field goals in the postseason are the most ever, well ahead of Stephen Gostkowski (41) in second place. Harrison Butker is the active leader and needs to connect on 24 more field goals to catch Vinatieri.

The Hall of Fame selection committee will narrow its candidate list to 25 players for the semifinal stage. Ultimately, between just four and eight new enshrinees will get the call.

Ahead of Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers veteran quarterback Russell Wilson reunited with an old friend for a fun moment.

Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch, Wilson's teammate with the Seattle Seahawks, was in attendance at Allegiant Stadium and took a handoff from Wilson during warmups. He gave Wilson a dap and appeared to provide the signal-caller with some words of encouragement before letting him get back to his routine:

Marshawn Lynch is here, carrying a pair of black and yellow cleats.

He took a handoff from old teammate Russell Wilson for old times sake. pic.twitter.com/T7kenLxtV1

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 13, 2024

Of course, seeing Wilson hand the ball off to Lynch could conjure up painful memories for Seahawks fans who were hoping to see them do just that at the goal line in the waning moments of Super Bowl XLIX rather than the interception that Wilson threw that sealed a 28-24 victory for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

The cordial interaction between Wilson and Lynch also might surprise some, as Lynch previously revealed that the two of them didn't have a close relationship during their time together in Seattle.

"I respect Russell as a player and as a teammate. ... Anything that I say is gonna come off as malice or as if I'm a hater. ... I'll take Russell, and I'll put him right there at quarterback, and I'll rock with him, because I have done that. But as far as anything else... No, there's no, you can't pick up the phone and call ol' boy or nothing," Lynch said during an appearance on Club Shay Shay last year, also adding that he didn't even have Wilson's number.

Marshawn Lynch on Russell Wilson blocking his number:

“Russ was just a QB for me… I don’t have his number.” pic.twitter.com/85iEMtmPxp

— Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) October 4, 2023

Wilson is active for the first time this season on Sunday after recovering from a calf injury that he aggravated toward the end of training camp. Justin Fields will remain the starting quarterback for the Steelers, with the 35-year-old serving as the primary backup.

A Cal football legend will appear on College GameDay this Saturday.

Marshawn Lynch, who played for the Golden Bears from 2004 to 2006, will be the guest picker on GameDay this week as the show heads to Berkley for the first time ever for a matchup between Cal and No. 8 Miami.

After the show announced Lynch's guest appearance, he called for Cal fans to show up bright and early at Memorial Glade on Cal's campus.

"YesLawd. Pull up early on ya boi at Memorial Glade…" he wrote in a post on X. "And when I say early this time, I mean hella early!!! Pit opens at 3:30am, yeah AM. Show is live at 6am, so we on team no sleep, straight from yo night out, right to campus ready to get it in."

YesLawd. Pull up early on ya boi at Memorial Glade… And when I say early this time, I mean hella early!!! Pit opens at 3:30am, yeah AM. Show is live at 6am, so we on team no sleep, straight from yo night out, right to campus ready to get it in. https://t.co/zKuKd4MPpX

— Marshawn Lynch (@MoneyLynch) October 3, 2024

Lynch had an outstanding tenure at Cal, recording 3,230 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns in his three seasons. Beyond his strong play on the field, Lynch became a fan favorite among Golden Bears fans, and his eccentric personality will be on full display in front of his fans on Saturday.

Cal has struggled for much of the last decade but has seen a bit of a resurgence to start the 2024 season. The Bears won their first three games of the year—including one against Auburn—before dropping a matchup against Florida State last week.

In front of Lynch and the rest of a Cal-friendly crowd, the Bears will look for a big upset over Miami this week.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 167 modern-era nominees for the Class of 2025 on Wednesday.

According to NFL.com, some of the most notable first-year-eligible nominees include New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, Baltimore Ravens pass-rusher Terrell Suggs and New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.

The list of 167 nominees, which will be whittled down to 50 by the HOF screening committee next month, is comprised of 94 offensive players, 56 defensive players and 17 special teamers.

Once the top 50 players are chosen, that group will be reduced to 25 semifinalists by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee later this fall, followed by a selection of 15 finalists with the Hall of Fame inductees being announced during Super Bowl week.

Of the players in their first year of eligibility, Manning is arguably the biggest name with one of the best chances of getting inducted on the first ballot.

Manning spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the Giants, throwing for 57,023 yards, 366 touchdowns and 244 interceptions, earning four Pro Bowl selections and most importantly leading the Giants to a pair of Super Bowl wins over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Eli: CLUTCH.

Announcing his retirement today...the TOP 10 PLAYS of Eli Manning's career! @Giants | #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/bd0WCwxkW4

— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2020

If Eli is inducted, he will join his brother, former Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, in the hallowed halls of Canton.

Romo played 11 NFL seasons for the Cowboys, throwing for 34,183 yards, 248 touchdowns and 117 picks. While he was a four-time Pro Bowler, he went just 2-4 as a starter in his playoff career and never made it past the Divisional Round.

He has gained additional popularity in retirement due to his NFL announcing work on CBS alongside Jim Nantz, but is considered a long shot for a Hall of Fame induction.

Along with Manning, the trio of Lynch, Suggs and Vinatieri should all have a legitimate shot at receiving a first-ballot induction.

In 12 NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Seahawks and Oakland Raiders, Lynch rushed for 10,413 yards and 85 touchdowns, along with catching 287 passes for 2,214 yards and nine scores.

The four-time Pro Bowler and one-time First Team All-Pro nicknamed Beast Mode is 29th in NFL history in rushing yardage and 17th in rushing touchdowns, and he was the Seahawks' primary offensive weapon when they won the Super Bowl in 2013.

During his 17-year NFL career with the Ravens, Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs, Suggs was as decorated as any pass-rusher of his era, earning seven Pro Bowl nods, one First Team All-Pro selection and two Super Bowl wins.

He was also the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, and his 139 career sacks are eighth on the all-time official list and 12th on the unofficial list.

Viewed as arguably the most clutch kicker in NFL history, Vinatieri was a three-time Pro Bowler, three-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Super Bowl champ in 24 seasons with the Pats and Colts.

Vinatieri made 83.8 percent of his field goals during his career, and his 2,673 points scored are the most in NFL history. He also made some of the most iconic game-winning field goals in playoff history, including the Patriots' "Tuck Rule" win over the Raiders in the 2001 AFC Divisional Round, the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVI upset of the St. Louis Rams and the Patriots' XXXVIII victory over the Carolina Panthers.

If Vinatieri is inducted, he will be only the third full-time kicker in the HOF, joining Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen.

In terms of players who have been on the Hall of Fame ballot before, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson, Saints guard Jahri Evans, Chiefs and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, Eagles and Raiders cornerback Eric Allen, Patriots safety Rodney Harrison and Cowboys safety Darren Woodson are back on the ballot after being finalists last year.

Other returning players of note include Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, Giants running back Tiki Barber, Saints and Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, Rams wide receiver Torry Holt, Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward and Steelers linebacker James Harrison.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who is seeking a "reworked" contract, posted a picture of himself and former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch on Instagram Tuesday.

Kamara’s latest Instagram post pic.twitter.com/9Dv8p0FfqU

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) July 23, 2024

Kamara left the Saints' mandatory minicamp in June early in search of a new deal. But he's in Irvine, California, for the team's training camp now.

After leaving in the middle of minicamp, Alvin Kamara is there for the start of #Saints camp. Doesn’t sound like there has been any progress on a new contract, though. https://t.co/8rLTfE3bDG

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 23, 2024

While it's unknown what Kamara's picture with Lynch represents, it is known that Lynch once showed up to Super Bowl media day and repeatedly said "I'm here so I won't get fined" in response to questions.

Perhaps Kamara, who is under contract through 2025, is insinuating the same thing.

As far as the contract goes, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler provided information on the matter during the June 16 edition of SportsCenter.

"I can confirm he missed the final day of minicamp and that was contract-related. He's got two years left on his deal, due $11.8 million this year. The problem is next year he's due $25 million non-guaranteed. The Saints, there's no way that they're going to pay that.

"And so, I'm told Kamara is open to doing a reworked two-year deal, strengthen his guarantees in year one. They've talked about it. So far, not a lot of momentum. We'll see if something shakes out. He could be a threat to miss training camp if they don't get something done before late July."

Kamara has played seven NFL seasons, amassing 10,048 yards from scrimmage and 77 touchdowns. He had 1,160 yards from scrimmage and six scores in 13 games last year.

Kamara rushed for 5.0 yards per carry over his first four NFL seasons, but that number has fallen to 3.9 YPC over the past three pro campaigns. He's not as explosive as he once was, but he's still a productive and versatile back who has averaged 72 receptions per season.

The five-time Pro Bowler has been tremendous for the Saints and should roll into the season as RB1 yet again, but there are legitimate questions about 2025.

Kamara has a $29 million cap number for 2025, and that's awfully high. But New Orleans can also release him and save nearly $19 million on the cap while taking on $10 million in dead money.

Ultimately, a reworked deal to lower that cap number significantly seems like the best bet for both sides. Although Kamara isn't as efficient as he once was, he's still a productive dual threat and one of the Saints' top offensive weapons.

Marshawn Lynch is co-hosting a podcast with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The new podcast Politickin', which will also feature NFL agent Doug Hendrickson, will launch July 15, according to an iHeartRadio press release.

The podcast network bills the show as "Gavin Newsom like you've never heard him and Marshawn Lynch exactly how you'd expect him."

In the trailer available at iHeartRadio, Lynch says: "It's bridging gap. You sit down. You come to the roundtable. We need to figure it out. I need to figure out where you coming from, right? But you need to figure out where he coming from."

Lynch continued: "We bring each side, all walks of life, like how we're doing right now, and we figure out what we got going on, and what I'm gonna call that is Politickin'."

Newsom added that the podcast would have "no politics."

This is not the first time Newsom, who was elected as California's governor in 2018, has launched a media endeavor.

Newsom hosted a weekly talk show as Lieutenant Governor of California from 2012 to 2013.

He has been planning the new podcast with Lynch and Hendrickson for over a year, his advisers told POLITICO's Christopher Cadelago.

Newsom originally met Lynch through Hendrickson, with whom the California governor has been friends since the mid-1990s, per Michael Silver for Yahoo Sports. Hendrickson began representing Lynch in 2007.

"I love sports, and I admire the hell out of athletes, especially in their prime," Newsom told Silver in 2013. "I love excellence. I love watching greatness. That's why I laugh when people hate on Tiger or LeBron. I love watching people at the peak of their performance. There's nothing more magical."

In the podcast, Newsom, Hendrickson and Lynch will discuss "a deeper understanding of what it takes to excel in their respective fields," per Sports Business Journal.

Lynch played 12 NFL seasons for the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders between 2007 and 2019. He helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl in 2014. Since his retirement, his media career has included appearances in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Bar Rescue.

Russell Wilson believes that former teammate and All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch deserves to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In a conversation with former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall on the I Am Athlete podcast, Wilson mentioned Lynch's impressive tenure with the Seattle Seahawks as one of the main factors in his Hall of Fame case.

"To me, he should be a Hall of Fame football player, man," Wilson said (around the 19:00 mark). "What he meant to Seattle, what he meant to our team, what he meant to me, you know. I wouldn't be as great as I am without him, watching him and observing him and also vice versa, just how hard he worked."

The current Denver Broncos signal-caller spent the first four years of his career as teammates with Lynch on the Seahawks. The two excelled instantly, as Wilson and Lynch were both selected to the Pro Bowl in each season from 2012 to 2014. The Seahawks made the playoffs in all of those years, emerging from the NFC Championship game in two separate seasons.

The pair's crowning achievement was a Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos, giving the organization its lone Lombardi Trophy.

Lynch also made one of his five total Pro Bowl teams as a member of the Buffalo Bills in 2008. He finished his career with 10,413 rush yards and 85 touchdowns, while his 970 total postseason yards on the ground ranks No. 8 in NFL history (via Pro Football Reference).

With his final season occurring in 2019, Lynch will be eligible to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025.