Marshawn Lynch is a national treasure. The now-retired running back has the gift of gab and a personality that allows him to somehow be both aloof and eloquent at the same time. As such, Marshawn always makes for entertaining television, whether he’s being hilariously placed in abnormal situations outside his comfort zone, or speaking on weighty topics on Conan, he’s always on point.
So when Marshawn was asked by Conan O’Brien about his thoughts on Colin Kaepernick and his ongoing kneeling during the national anthem protest of police brutality, it’s no surprise he offered a poignant opinion on the matter. “With what’s going on, I’d rather see him take a knee than stand up, put his hands up and get murdered,” he said Tuesday night on Conan.
“My take on it is, sh*t got to start somewhere, and if that was the starting point, I just hope people open up their eyes to see that it’s really a problem going on and something needs to be done for it to stop. If you’re really not racist, you won’t see what he’s doing as a threat to America, just addressing the problem that we have.”
Lynch’s appearance on the show was just another example of his ability to be both serious and comical, as his Kaepernick comments came just moments after he donned a top hat and teased a new career as Willy Wonka. For a man who gained a reputation for his refusal to speak, Marshawn always seems to make an impression whenever he does.
