What If Marshawn Lynch Had Carried the Ball in 2015 Super Bowl?

The play that changed the legacy of the former Cal star

Jan. 27, 2026 at 2:23pm by Ben Kaplan

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With the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots preparing to play in Super Bowl LX, it's impossible not to recall the infamous play call the last time these two teams met in the Super Bowl 11 years ago. If Marshawn Lynch had run 1 yard for a touchdown on February 1, 2015, would he be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026?

Why it matters

Lynch's name won't be announced for the Hall of Fame class of 2026, as he was not among the 26 finalists despite making the list of 52 semifinalists. The play in which he didn't carry the ball is the one for which he is most remembered, and it's wondered whether he will ever make it to the Hall of Fame.

The details

With 26 seconds left and Seattle trailing by 4 points in Super Bowl 49, the Seahawks were on the 1-yard line. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called for a pass instead of giving the ball to Lynch, who had already caught a 31-yard pass and run 4 yards on the drive. The pass was intercepted, and the Patriots held on to win. If Lynch had scored the touchdown, he likely would have been named Super Bowl MVP, which could have boosted his Hall of Fame chances.

  • On February 1, 2015, the Seahawks lost Super Bowl 49 to the Patriots.
  • On February 5, 2026, the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026 will be announced in the Bay Area.
  • On October 5, 2024, Lynch appeared as a guest picker on ESPN GameDay.

The players

Marshawn Lynch

A former Cal star running back who played 12 seasons in the NFL, amassing 10,413 yards and being selected to 4 Pro Bowls. He was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026 but did not make the final 26 candidates.

Darrell Bevell

The Seattle Seahawks' offensive coordinator at the time of Super Bowl 49, who called the infamous play that resulted in an interception instead of giving the ball to Lynch on the goal line.

Malcolm Butler

The New England Patriots' cornerback who intercepted the pass intended for Ricardo Lockette at the goal line, sealing the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl 49.

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What they’re saying

“And I'm sorry but I can't believe the call.”

— Cris Collinsworth, TV analyst (NBC)

“Me neither.”

— Al Michaels, TV analyst (NBC)

“You've got Marshawn Lynch in the backfield. You've got a guy who's been borderline unstoppable in this part of the field. I can't believe the call.”

— Cris Collinsworth, TV analyst (NBC)

“You took a dream away, you took a moment away, you arguably take a dynasty away... Not only do you take away all that (stuff), but you put us in the history books as the dumbest call in football history.”

— Marshawn Lynch (Interview with Shannon Sharpe)

“Why didn't they give you're the ball?”

— Shannon Sharpe, Hall of Fame tight end (Interview with Marshawn Lynch)

What’s next

The announcement of players voted into the Hall of Fame class of 2026 will be made in the Bay Area on February 5, 2026. It remains to be seen if Marshawn Lynch's name will be called.

The takeaway

The infamous play call in Super Bowl 49 may have cost Marshawn Lynch a chance at Hall of Fame immortality, as his legacy is now defined by a moment in which he didn't carry the ball rather than his impressive career statistics and accomplishments.