Without a doubt the biggest play of the Seattle Seahawks 16-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals was safety Coby Bryant’s interception return for a touchdown. The score extended Seattle’s lead to 13-3 and effectively put the game out of reach for the Cardinals, given how well Seattle’s defense was playing.
Coby Bryant’s second career interception was a MASSIVE one! #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/UYXKsAZ5Mz
— The Seahawks Wire (@TheSeahawksWire) November 24, 2024
For those with a keen eye and a good memory, Bryant’s celebration as he cascaded into the end zone was the same as the legendary Marshawn Lynch, who did it twice at the end of his two best runs. The iconic Beast Quake in the playoffs, then the sequel in 2014… which was against the Arizona Cardinals. More on that particular run in a minute.
Art But Make It… Marshawn. pic.twitter.com/fiGDTVdyh0
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 24, 2024
Seahawks fans everywhere can recognize that celebration, and Bryant acknowledged after the game it was specifically an homage to Lynch himself. After all, could you truly make such a gesture in a Seattle uniform and have it not be about Beast Mode? Bryant explained after the game it was in honor of No. 24, and since Bryant knows he is about to be fined, he gave a special request to Lynch.
.@MoneyLynch, we need you to show some love to your boy pic.twitter.com/Pozqtg2VuG
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 25, 2024
Unfortunately, the NFL is most assuredly going to come down hard on Bryant. Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams made a similar move on a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11. The league fined Williams an astonishing $19,697 for his “obscene gesture.”
The horror. Won’t somebody please think of the children!?
Quarterback Geno Smith even said postgame press conference “Man, please don’t fine him, NFL. Let him keep his money!”
Bryant understood what could be the potential cost, and decided to do so anyway. Good for him. He mentioned in the press conference that he chose the Lynch celebration specifically because he was playing the Cardinals. Bryant then began reminiscing about where he was when Marshawn barreled through the Arizona defense that fateful night.
“I was actually watching the game with my dad [in Cleveland],” Bryant explained. “I am so happy to be drafted here. I told my parents I was going to do it, and it manifested itself!”
Speaking of his parents, Bryant also mentioned how Sunday was a rather special day for his family outside of football. When asked about what Bryant did with the ball he intercepted, he gave one of the best answers a player can give:
“I definitely snagged the ball. It’s actually my mom’s birthday. What a coincidence, and I’m going to give it to her as one of her gifts.”
