Marshawn Lynch, a former player for the Seattle Seahawks, has recently joined the ownership group of Oakland Roots SC, a team competing in the USL Championship, the second-tier soccer league in the United States under MLS.
Lynch, who is a native of Oakland and attended UC Berkeley nearby from 2004-2006, began his football career with the California Golden Bears during this time. In 2017, he briefly played for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL before rejoining the Seahawks where he made a name for himself.
Expressing his deep connection to Oakland, Lynch stated, “Growing up in The Town, we always had our local professional teams to support, but with many of them gone now, when I heard about the opportunity to be a part of Oakland Roots, I felt compelled to join not just because I wanted to, but because I had to.”
Co-founder of the team, Edreece Arghandiwal, emphasized Lynch’s strong personal ties to the region as a significant factor in his decision to join the ownership group.
“Since the beginning, we have strived to create an ownership team that is passionate not only about professional sports but also about Oakland and our mission,” said Arghandiwal. “We are thrilled to welcome someone who has always been an inspiration to the people of Oakland and all of us at Roots.”
