[4] Powell attended the University of Southern California (USC) and played college football for the Trojans.

[13] Powell was elected president of the National Football League Players Association during his playing career.

[18] Powell voiced his aspirations for politics, saying that he wished to run for president of the United States.

[1] In 1991, he joined Rosenfeld, Meyer, & Susman, a law firm in Beverly Hills, California.

[21] Powell's son, Marvin III, played college football at USC between 1995 and 1998.

A fullback, he played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, the Green Bay Packers, and the Denver Broncos.