Jim Marshall, the ironman of Minnesota Vikings history, died Tuesday.
He was 87. The Vikings said in a release that he had been hospitalized for a lengthy time.
Marshall played in a then NFL-record 282 consecutive regular-season games at defensive end (270 from 1961-79 for the Vikings after coming over from the Cleveland Browns), and was a team captain for 14 seasons. He played in all four of the Vikings’ Super Bowl teams.
In retirement, Marshall knocked on the door of the Pro Football Hall of Fame but was never inducted, despite the best efforts of people like former coach Bud Grant, who said Marshall best represented the history of the team.
“There’s a picture of him that I have that says it all,” said Grant, who died in 2023. “He’s standing on the football field. Everything’s all muddy. It’s snowing. And Jim’s got that look. He represented the Vikings better than any player we’ve ever had. He and Mick \[Tingelhoff\]. The absolute cornerstone of the Minnesota Vikings. That’s Jim Marshall.”
Marshall’s 20-year NFL career began in Cleveland in 1960 and ended with 19 years as an original Viking. He made two Pro Bowls. His 127 sacks rank second in franchise history behind Carl Eller (130). His 29 opponent fumble recoveries are tied with Jason Taylor for most in NFL history.
And he never missed a game. Including playoffs, he played 301 consecutive games. That stood as a record for a position player until Brett Favre broke it as a Viking in 2009. The defensive end’s 289 consecutive games started, including playoffs, is second all time behind Favre’s 321.
In retirement, Marshall paid the price.