“Is this legal?”: NFL fans react to Marshawn Lynch coaching Omarion Hampton on sidelines during Chargers vs. Chiefs showdown

Marshawn Lynch knows the pressures that come with being a first-round pick. Lynch was drafted with the 12th pick in 2007 and went on to have a successful career, culminating in a Super Bowl victory in 2014.

The five-time Pro Bowl running back was spotted in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, offering advice to Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton, who was taken with the 22nd pick this year.

Lynch was at the game serving as a photographer, leaving fans to question whether his actions were within the rule book.

“Yo is this legal,” wondered one fan on X.

IcyVert

@IcyVert

Yo is this legal 😭

“Is he really allowed to do that?” questioned someone else.

“Someone needs to hire him onto a coaching staff. He’s doing anything just to get back on the sideline lol have to respect the hustle, all he needed was a camera,” added another fan.

Lynch’s conversation with Hampton occurred after the rookie ran out of bounds near the end of the opening half, stopping the clock and allowing the Kansas City Chiefs another possession.

Omar Ali

@S3LF_PR0CLAIM

@AryePulliNFL Yeah, he gonna be coaching soon. For all I know they just chatting, but if that’s about football he will be coaching again he’s to passionate about to be on the sideline taking pictures

Julian Hutchison

@DreamvilleHutch

@AryePulliNFL Najee pissed 😂

5Gsus

@Aadam_P

@AryePulliNFL Can he give Pacheco some advice too, thanks Marshawn

Although he never served as a coach, Lynch owns a few professional teams, including the Bay Area Panthers and the FCF Beasts, both of which compete in Indoor Football. He’s also a minority owner of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.

Hampton, meanwhile, had the bulk of the running load on Friday with 15 carries for 48 yards. Chargers veteran Najee Harris only got one touch out of the backfield for five yards. The Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco ran for 25 yards on five carries.

Omarion Hampton could end up being quite the steal

It was a surprise to see Omarion Hampton get his number called as often as he did on Friday. After all, Harris is a former Pro Bowl running back who’s had four consecutive 1,000+ rushing yards.

Hampton was deployed as the every-down back against the Chiefs, with 15 more combined touches than Harris. There’s speculation that the team is easing Harris into things because of the eye injury he sustained in training camp.

If that’s the case, then Hampton has a real opportunity to grab the limelight and be a more featured back while Harris recovers. That would also provide fantasy managers with a chance to earn some under-the-radar points from a player who likely didn’t go too high in drafts.

The Chargers’ next game is against Lynch’s former team, the Las Vegas Raiders, on Sept. 15.