Last week, the Seahawks finally placed running back Marshawn Lynch on the reserve-retired list. This caused many to assume that Lynch finally had filed his retirement papers.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Lynch hasn’t.
Moreover, Lynch has had no direct communication with the Seahawks about his plans. The only evidence of his desire to retire came from the tweet Lynch posted during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 50.
That’s not to say Lynch currently isn’t retired; indeed, he has not responded to the team’s placement of Lynch on the reserve/retired list by saying, “I’m not retired.” But without something more tangible or official to reflect his current status, the chances of a return seem to be a little bit greater than they would be if he had dotted every i and crossed every t.
Regardless of whether he has filed retirement papers, Lynch can get back in by filing a piece of paper that declares his desire to return. At that point, the Seahawks would have to decide whether to re-absorb his $9 million base salary and welcome him to the team, trade him, or cut him. If Lynch is released from the reserve/retired list after the trade deadline, he’d be required to pass through waivers.
Reached for comment on the matter, the Seahawks referred PFT to the league office. The league office has not responded to an email sent last night. Lynch’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, also has not responded to a request for comment.
