How Aaron Rodgers saved Marshawn Lynch’s football career at UC Berkeley

Marshawn Lynch is grateful to Aaron Rodgers for helping him earn an opportunity to start at the University of Berkeley.

How Aaron Rodgers saved Marshawn Lynch’s football career at UC Berkeley

Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Rodgers (Image Credits: L-via Sports Illustrated, R-via IMAGO)

Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Rodgers have known one another since before they became professional football players. The two stars played together at the University of California, Berkeley for one season, and that was Lynch’s freshman year.

As is the case with any freshman player, the pressure to perform is high whereas the opportunities are less. Coaches prefer to rely upon players who have been tried and tested during games, but occasionally, they allow freshmen to have an opportunity to experience the action. The same was the case with Marshawn Lynch.

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The running back found himself backing up J.J. Arrington, who had compiled a 2,000-yard season. Naturally, this meant that the Head Coach would turn to Arrington for rushing rather than Lynch. However, during the spring game, Marshawn got the opportunity that he was looking for.

With Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback, the running back confidently went onto the field, except that he ended up lining on the wrong side of the field on the first play. Unfortunately for him, by the time he had realized this, it was too late but fortunately, Aaron Rodgers was his quarterback. Marshawn Lynch shared the incredible story of how the four-time MVP quickly improvised and still found a way to help him score.

Lynch shared the anecdote on the Club Shay Shay podcast to demonstrate how incredible of a player and leader Aaron Rodgers is.

As a freshman, it was hard to play, and there was a running back on our team who had 2,000 yards in my freshman year. The chances of me getting an opportunity to play were slim. We had our spring game. As A-Rod turned around and he looking for me. He see I’m on the other side. A-Rod pull a smoothest move I’ve ever seen. He was facing the other way…

Marshawn Lynch on how Aaron Rodgers stood up for him at Berkeley

Had it been any other quarterback in this position, he would have overlooked Lynch and attempted to salvage the play by throwing it to someone else or scrambling out of bounds. But this was no normal quarterback.

This incident helped build trust between Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Rodgers

Subsequently, Rodgers handed the ball to Lynch, but backwards, and the running back came around and rectified his blunder before getting back into the play. After the play, Rodgers never taunted him for his mistake, and this incident convinced Lynch of one thing. “This is how I knew A-Rod was special.” It also marked the start of a bond filled with mutual respect between them, and to this date, Rodgers and Lynch remain good friends.

Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers (Image via IMAGO)

While the two played together in college, they never got a chance to play in the NFL. To see Beastmode and Rodgers on the same team would have been a feast. The running back cherishes the bond he had with Rodgers.

Me and A-Rod then built a level of trust. A-Rod would do s*** like if you get a safety or a linebacker on you, I don’t care what the play was; run a go. He really put me in the mix.

Marshawn Lynch on the kind of adjustments Aaron Rodgers would make at Berkeley

Lynch’s positive statements come at a time when Rodgers is taking heat from football fans.

The quarterback has gained a reputation for being toxic and a divisive figure. There are not many teams willing to take a risk by signing him. Essentially, Rodgers is walking on a tightrope; on one side lies retirement, and on the other lies a return, and right now, his body is leaning towards the side of retirement. Despite the uncertainty, Rodgers is likely to decide on his next move after the draft concludes.