The bait was set. Seattle Seahawks icon Marshawn Lynch was asked to be a guest on ESPN2's ManningCast during the game between Seattle and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18, and Eli Manning asked Lynch to confirm he would use no swear words on the air.
The former running back, and current highly successful businessperson, was on the ManningCast, featuring Eli and Peyton Manning, in 2021, and he had cursed, done shots of Hennessy, and basically created a viral sensation. ESPN was likely fined over what Lynch said.
But Lynch is Lynch, and understands that sometimes going too far can be funny, even if parents of young children aren't huge fans of the situation. Those parents won't be thrilled with how Lynch's Week 18 appearance went, either.
Seattle Seahawks legend Marshawn Lynch is as entertaining as ever on recent ManningCast
After Eli Manning asked Lynch to confirm he would not cuss (unless it was toward Peyton Manning, as, in Eli's view, most people would be fine with that), Lynch made mention of the likely fine from his 2021 appearance, and added, "Just to get things on the up and up, s*** f***. We got it out of the way, now let's get into it."
Marshawn Lynch gets the profanity warning, blows right past it on the ManningCast. pic.twitter.com/D1xSHoOcsp
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 4, 2026
Were Lynch's words crude and crass? Absolutely. Were they unexpected? Not at all. Fans also know they do not come from a point of malice and are just part of Lynch's schtick. It is also one reason that people tune in to watch.
The good part is that while it is unlikely that Lynch returns to the ManningCast this season, he could, especially during a Seattle Seahawks game. ESPN will carry a Monday Night Football Wild Card game, though 12s don't have to worry about that. ESPN could also carry a divisional game.
Since Seattle defeated the 49ers 13-3, the Seahawks won the NFC West title, took the top seed in the NFC, and will have home-field advantage as long as the team stays in the postseason leading up to the Super Bowl. That also means Seattle has a bye in the first round of the playoffs, so any Wild Card ManningCast won't feature the Seahawks.
As for Marshawn Lynch, he will certainly appear somewhere soon. He also seems to stay in the public eye, and he has the personality for it. Not because he is over-the-top entertaining, but because he is unique. Though he might not always be family-friendly.