In 1984, Lynch was a team captain and 1984 First Team All-American,[4] and unanimously won the Morris Trophy as the Pac-10's top offensive lineman. He was also on the 1984 Bob Hope Christmas Special with the AP All-American team.[5] Lynch played in the East–West Shrine Game, and became the first (and to date only) player to appear in a second Senior Bowl.[6]
Lynch was also a three-time Academic All-American in the Pac-10 (1982, 1983, 1984).
Lynch is known for a memorable remark before the 1984 Apple Cup against the rival Washington Huskies, "There are four important stages in your life. You're born, you play the Huskies, you get married and you die."[7][8][9]
Lynch was drafted by the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) in the 1985 NFL draft.[10][11] During pre-season, he started to suffer from Addison's disease, which saw his weight drop from 275 pounds (125 kg) to 225 pounds (102 kg); he ended up in an intensive care unit, where his weight further dropped to 170 pounds (77 kg).[12] While he was with the Broncos in pre-season, he didn't play in a regular season NFL game.[13] Due to his illness, Lynch retired from football.