Marshawn Lynch: NFL fined me $1.2M for not talking to media

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch accumulated some hefty fines for avoiding the media during his career.

Appearing on the "I Am Athlete" podcast, the 36-year-old said the NFL fined him a total of $1.2 million for not complying with the league's media policy.

Marshawn Lynch sheds light on his famous “I’m just here so I don’t get fined” quote:⁣⁣
⁣⁣
“The fines started accumulating from seasons before. It got to a pretty penny. $1.2M for just not talkin’ to the media.” 🤯⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Watch & Subscribe 🥃 → https://t.co/qzWChsR5bw pic.twitter.com/Z7SfiOeMGu
— I AM ATHLETE (@IAMATHLETEpod) February 20, 2023

The league reportedly threatened Lynch with a $500,000 fine if he skipped Super Bowl XLIX Media Day in 2015, which led to his famous declaration, "I'm just here so I won't get fined." He repeated the phrase in response to every question but avoided league discipline.

"I'm just here so I won't get fined."

Four years ago, Marshawn Lynch stole the show at Super Bowl Media Day without saying much of anything. @MoneyLynch pic.twitter.com/4TxbplBiCT
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) January 28, 2019