Marshawn grew up in Oakland, California with his three siblings and his mother. His mother had to work multiple jobs in order to keep the family moving. Lynch's family had a history of being athletes, such as his mother, who had been a very good sprinter at the high school that Marshawn was attending at the time (Oakland Technical High School). Lynch played many different positions during high school, including Defensive Back, Quarterback, Wide Receiver, and Linebacker.