Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald never coached Marshawn Lynch, but he has long been a fan of the former All-Pro running back's game.
So much so, in fact, that Lynch's mindset is, as Macdonald put it during his weekly appearance on Seattle Sports 710AM, the Seahawks Legend is "part of our team DNA."
In particular, Macdonald explained, there's a certain, not-so-radio-friendly Lynch quote that the team uses to help define its mentality.
"We've met a couple of times," Macdonald told Mike Salk and Brock Huard. "And personally, how are you not a huge fan of Marshawn Lynch? It's funny, we talk about team DNA and who we want to be, and there's a quote he said out there that I can't repeat on a radio show, but everyone else knows what I'm talking about. That's part of our team DNA. He's right in the thick of it."
For those not familiar with it, the quote in question came from a 2016 interview Lynch did with 60 Minutes Sports after he retired for the first time following the 2015 season. In the interview with Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim, Lynch explained how his uncle, former NFL cornerback Lorenzo Lynch, helped instill the mindset that would become known as "Beast Mode" in him at a young age.
"I think that's when it just clicked in my mind that if you just run through somebody's face, a lot of people ain't going to be able to take that over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again," Lynch said. "They're just not going to want that."
Wertheim then asked, "You think there's a deeper metaphor there?"
And that question prompted one of Lynch's most famous quotes, one Macdonald's Seahawks are using almost a decade later.
"Run through a (expletive's) face, then you don't have to worry about him no more."
Lynch was a topic on the first regular-season episode of the Mike Macdonald show, of course, because he made a surprise appearance on the sideline during the game to rub Macdonald's shoulders and share a few words late in the first quarter.
"It's pretty awesome," Macdonald said. "I saw him there and I was like, 'OK, hey what's up?' I'm thinking that was it, and then all of a sudden, there he is again."
Salk jokingly referred to Lynch as "America's guest" for the way he can just show up anywhere and be welcomed, but jokes aside, Macdonald welcomes Lynch's visits, though maybe not on the sideline during a game next time.
"It's awesome to have him around," Macdonald said. "Like you say, he's America's guest, but he's also the Seahawks guest. We'd love to have him whenever he wants to be here."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 1 game versus the Denver Broncos at Lumen Field on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks strong safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks strong safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) and Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Coby Bryant (8) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks players at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) and Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (17) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at Lumen Field for the Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
