How Marshawn Lynch Became an N.F.L. Mentor
The New York Times
The former Super Bowl champion has always had a way with words. It has turned him into a trusted adviser to N.F.L. and college football players who want to use their “wittys to get up out that siti.”
Marshawn Lynch absolutely refuses to code switch. His candor, regardless of the audience, has yielded unforgettable quotations — “I’m just here so I won’t get fined”; “Take care of your chicken, take care of your mental” — that have marked him as a sage of sorts, somebody who is sought out in his retirement by current players in need of mentoring and by brands hoping to make an impression.
A 12-year N.F.L. veteran who last played in 2019 and an in-demand pitchman, Lynch was a founder of Beast Mode Marketing, which represents players like running back Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers and advises college athletes on name, image and likeness opportunities. In October 2021, Lynch became the N.F.L. Players Association’s first chief brand ambassador, providing his perspective on financial literacy and entrepreneurship for current and former players.
In a videoconference call in December, Lynch discussed that role, how he learned to manage money in the N.F.L. and the humility it takes for players to ask for help with their finances.
