Dance Party of One: Marshawn Gets Lost in Moment During Perfect Homecoming

OAKLAND – The Raiders scored their fifth touchdown against the New York Jets early in the fourth quarter. At that point, the rout was on.

So was a celebration of all things Raiders. Oakland Coliseum, as the kids say, was lit. 

A pre-kickoff break in the action didn't need to kill the vibe, so a venue DJ spun a local favorite.

"Oakland," by Vell featuring DJ Mustard, blared through the Oakland Coliseum sound system. The chorus is catchy and, obviously, a local favorite.

"I'm really from Oakland doe, ‘cause I'm really, yeah, I'm like really, really, really from Oakland doe."

That sequence should be familiar if you followed Marshawn Lynch's journey out of retirement, free from Seattle's clutches and into a Raiders uniform. He used those lyrics to tweet his official return to the NFL with the Raiders back on April 26.

That's also Marshawn's jam.

Right there on the sideline, in the middle Sunday's 45-20 victory, it inspired a dance party of one.

Dreadlocks, elbows and knees swayed with the beat, completely lost in the moment. Then cameras found Marshawn, and this dance party turned 54,729 strong.

His teammates were inspired, but nobody joined in. This was Marshawn's moment with his city, on his homecoming day.

"It was great. He is Oakland," linebacker Bruce Irvin, who played with Lynch as a Seahawk. "I've never seen him act like that in Seattle. It was great for him to be out there and be loose and have the success he had. It was great moment to see. I hope we can continue to have great moments like that."

Lynch didn't miss football in retirement. He returned when the Raiders were approved to bolt for Las Vegas, to give local kids a chance to cheer one of their own in person.

Lynch does so much for the Oakland community. Sunday was a chance to pay him back. They cheered his every move, never louder than his first trip into the end zone. It came early in the second quarter, as he busted through the middle across the goal line.

A roar engulfed Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in honor of a favorite son done well. Lynch simply got up, and took his football to the sideline. He wasn't letting that one go.

"I'm going to give it to my momma," he said after the game.

Lynch didn't say much about his experience in a few moments with the press. The love from the crowd felt good. He never got too emotional. He's excited about this offense's playmakers.

Even if he remained outwardly cool, the fans were hyped having the Raiders dominate and Oakland's most popular person take center stage.

"Did you see the crowd? The momentum was great," edge rusher Khalil Mack said. "That's a moment you want to experience as a football fan, to see a guy from your town dancing like that on the sideline. It was cool for the fans and cool for us too, seeing him enjoy himself and this win."

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