Marshawn Lynch established himself as one of the most beloved and impactful players in franchise history when he wore the Seahawks uniform from 2010 to 2015 and again late in the 2019 season. He was a focal point of the offense on two of Seattle’s Super Bowl teams and took on the nickname “Beast Mode” for his tenacious and determined style of running.
Much like the player himself, the Seahawks were relentless in their pursuit of Lynch in 2010 and finally acquired him from the Buffalo Bills for a pair of draft picks in October.
"We went after him for a long time, and I just kept bugging John (Schneider) and bugging John," former head coach Pete Carroll said in 2012.
The deal for Lynch turned out to be one of the greatest transactions ever executed by the team, as Lynch would function as the heartbeat of the offense during its most memorable era. He first etched his name forever in Seattle sports history with his iconic 67-yard touchdown run in the January 2011 NFC Wild Card win over the Saints. Lynch broke eight tackles and tossed a defender to the ground. The run became known as the “Beast Quake” because the 12s generated such a frenzy that seismic activity was recorded in the area.
“Every tackle he would break, it would get louder and louder, and I feel like everyone started running faster and faster, and it was just so great,” said former Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
"That was a breathtaking moment, it really was. That's why it's so memorable, and it's been a historic moment, an historic moment for our area and even the league, too,” Carroll added.
There were many more heroics to come from No. 24 as a Seahawk. From 2011 to 2014, he rushed for a league-best 5,357 yards and 48 touchdowns, finishing with 1,200-plus rushing yards and 11-plus rushing TDs in every season. Lynch was named first team All-Pro in 2012 and was a second-teamer in 2014. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2013 with 12, and in 2014 with 13. A premier NFL running back in the 2010s, Lynch was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team and he was a Pro Bowler every year from 2011 to 2014.
What truly elevated Lynch’s stature during his Seahawks career was his propensity to shine in the biggest games. He rushed for 970 yards and a franchise-record 12 touchdowns in 13 postseason contests. In each of his first four seasons in Seattle, he rushed for 130-plus yards in a playoff game. Lynch ran for the first TD in Seahawks Super Bowl history in their win over Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII and finished with 157 rushing yards in the 2015 NFC Championship Game victory over Green Bay.
“He is the engine. He is the heart and soul of this offense. Everything runs through him,” said former Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin.
In Week 16 of the 2014 season, Lynch delivered the sequel to the “Beast Quake” when he tore through the Arizona defense for a career-long 79-yard TD run. After his initial retirement, he returned to the Seahawks for the end of the 2019 regular season and playoffs, rushing for a TD in the season finale and adding three more rushing TDs in two postseason games. Lynch finished his Seahawks career with 6,381 rushing yards and 58 rushing TDs, ranking second in franchise history in both categories.
During and after his playing career, Lynch became a revered figure in the communities of Seattle and his hometown of Oakland, California. In 2025, the Seattle Sports Commission presented him with the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award. He co-founded the Fam First Foundation in Oakland to assist young people, and the outreach efforts include summer football camps hosted by Lynch.
