Former Ohio State and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall died at the age of 87 on Tuesday after a long hospitalization for an undisclosed illness, the Vikings announced.
“The entire Minnesota Vikings organization is mourning the loss of Jim Marshall,” Vikings owner Mark Wilf and their ownership group said in a statement. “No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man. A cornerstone of the franchise from the beginning, Captain Jim’s unmatched durability and quiet leadership earned the respect of teammates and opponents throughout his 20-year career. Jim led by example, and there was no finer example for others to follow. His impact on the Vikings was felt long after he left the field. Jim will always be remembered as a tremendous player and person.”
Marshall spent two seasons with the Buckeyes, including a national championship win in 1957 under Woody Hayes. He was an All-Big Ten player in both 1957 and 1958 and first-team All-American in the 1958 season, while also excelling on the Ohio State track and field team, setting school records in discus and shot put.
Marshall would be drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1960, who traded him to the Vikings following his rookie year. With the Vikings, he became part of the defensive line known as the Purple People Eaters, going on to make 270 consecutive starts in the league, a record he held for more than 30 years before it was broken by Brett Favre.
During his 20-year NFL career, Marshall played in 282 games and had an unofficial 130.5 sacks.
His No. 70 jersey was retired by the Vikings and he is a member of Minnesota’s Ring of Honor.
