ESPN.com ran a piece last April about the descending value of NFL running backs.
The story showed a graph from ESPN Stats & Information that depicted how running back production dropped off after the age of 27.
Taking into account all running backs that have played at least four seasons since 2001 and factoring in a minimum of 75 carries per season, ESPN determined that most backs see their careers peak at age 27. A player's rushing totals after that dipped by 15 percent in one year, by 25 percent in two, and by nearly 40 percent by the time a player turns 30.
But Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who turns 29 today, has shown no such signs of slowing down.
Last season, at age 28, Lynch put up an NFL-high 17 touchdowns (a career-high 13 rushing and four receiving) and racked up 1,304 yards with his legs, good for the second-most in his career. He helped the Seahawks set a franchise rushing record with 2,762 yards last season. And Lynch's 2014 numbers were up from the year prior, when at age 27 his 1,257 yards and 13 total touchdowns carried Seattle to its first Super Bowl championship.
Not to mention, Lynch has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 11-plus touchdowns in each of his four full seasons with the Seahawks (2011-14), including a career-high 1,590 yards on a career-high 315 carries at age 26 in 2012. Since 2011, he leads the NFL in rushing yards (5,357), total touchdowns (56), rushing touchdowns (48), and 100-yard games (24).
He's played in all 16 regular-season games over each of the past three years and enters his ninth NFL season after signing a two-year contract extension that will keep him - and his punishing style of play - in a Seahawks uniform through the 2017 season. If Lynch can muster 1,305 more yards, he'll become the 30th player in NFL history to reach the 10,000-yard plateau.
So happy 29th birthday to the team's "Beast Mode" back who's value is anything but descending amongst the Seahawks faithful.
Happy 29th Birthday to Seahawks Running Back Marshawn Lynch!
Marshawn Lynch found holes all day, thanks to help from his blockers, including tight end Zach Miller on this play in the second quarter.
Running backs Robert Turbin and Marshawn Lynch stay loose before kickoff.
Marshawn Lynch was limited in both carries and yards in the defeat to the Cowboys.
Marshawn Lynch sprints away from diving St. Louis defender T.J. McDonald during the second quarter.
A quick lean to the left to keep the defenders off balance and it's off to the end zone for Marshawn Lynch as he finishes off an amazing 79-yard touchdown run.
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