Former Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch is one of the toughest running backs to ever carry the pigskin. His elite rushing skills and fearless attitude earned him the nickname “Beast Mode.” However, for all his accomplishments on and off the field, his name will forever be tied to the only play from Super Bowl 49 against the Tom Brady-led Patriots, where he never even touched the football.
During the final seconds of Super Bowl XLIX, the Seahawks were on the verge of their second consecutive Super Bowl victory as they faced a second & goal from the 2-yard line while trailing by four points against the Patriots. Everyone watching the game was convinced the Seahawks will kickstart a new dynasty by scoring a touchdown from there and winning the Super Bowl. However, their head coach, Pete Carroll, had different ideas.
Instead of handing the ball to their running back Marshawn Lynch, who had 102 yards and a touchdown in that game, Carroll decided to call a throwing play, which backfired in a massive way. The Seahawks QB Russell Wilson threw a slant in the endzone, which was intercepted by the Patriots’ cornerback Malcolm Butler. After the interceptions, the Patriots just had to run out the clock to win their 4th Super Bowl ring.
Why Pete Carroll opted for a throwing play when he had “Beast Mode” in the backfield remains a mystery even now. However, Lynch has now opened up about the whole situation and how he feels about it now.
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Marshawn Lynch believes the Seahawks could’ve been a dynasty
While speaking in a recent episode of the I AM ATHLETE podcast, the former Seahawks running back opened up about the questionable call during the most pivotal moment at the Super Bowl.
“When it comes to the play call and the situation…I’m ballin’,” Lynch said. “And the only thing I could do is think I’ve gotta get in Pete [Carroll’s] face. But then what happened is, you’re in that mindset of ‘You should’ve gave me the ball…should’ve gave me the ball.’”
Furthermore, the 5-time Pro Bowler Lynch also believes that Seahawks could’ve been a dynasty with Russell Wilson under center if they hadn’t fumbled that Super Bowl game.
Marshawn Lynch opens up about not getting the ball in the most pivotal moment of Super Bowl XLIX:
“We at the peak of our careers, with the opportunity to go head and start a dynasty, and then we fumbled the bag on the two yard line.”
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— I AM ATHLETE (@IAMATHLETEpod) February 18, 2023“We at the peak of our careers, with the opportunity to go ahead and start a dynasty, and then we fumbled the bag on the two-yard line,” said Lynch via the I AM ATHLETE podcast 8 years after the loss.
Two Super Bowl rings, in two years, would’ve certainly started a dynasty. Moreover, beating Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in Super Bowl in back-to-back years would’ve been a dream start for Russell Wilson’s career. Instead, Pete Carroll decided to throw the game away.
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