COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jim Marshall, a former defensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings and Ohio State football, died on Tuesday. He was 87.
The Kentucky native was a standout for the Buckeyes from 1956-58, helping guide Ohio State to a national title in 1957 and earning All-American honors in 1958.
Marshall didn’t spent his senior season with Ohio State, electing instead to play in the Canadian Football League. In the 1960 NFL Draft, he was a fourth-round pick by the Browns.
Marshall spent one season in Cleveland before getting traded to the expansion Vikings. In Minnesota (1961-79), he built an illustrious career — one worthy of praise from many football greats paying tribute to Marshall this week.
“Growing up watching guys like Jim, I learned what it meant to show up every single Sunday, no matter what,” former NFL quarterback Brett Favre wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “To have had the chance to shake his hand — and even play in front of him — was a real honor.
“Guys like Jim paved the way. They didn’t ask for attention, they earned respect with every snap. I tried to bring that same mindset to the field every week.“
Fran Tarkenton shared the field with Marshall in Minnesota, serving as a quarterback for the Vikings from 1961-66 and 1972-78.
“He was the greatest leader in football that I ever played with,” Tarkenton said in a video posted to X. “In all the years of the Vikings, from 1961 to now, there’s never been a player — leader — like Jim Marshall. He’s the face of the Vikings. He’s the soul of the Vikings.
“... You set the standard. The Vikings would never be anything like they are without you, back in 1961, putting on that purple jersey. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Marshall was part of the Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” era which included Alan Page, Gary Larsen and Carl Eller.
He helped guide the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances.
“In a franchise flush with Hall of Famers and all-time greats, Jim Marshall stands out as the greatest captain in the history of the Minnesota Vikings,” Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell said in a release. “Jim’s legacy will forever serve as a role model for our players, as his commitment to the organization and his teammates was second to none.
“He was a 14-time captain, and nobody led a team like Jim did. He is the example that we have our captains strive to emulate, and there is no better model than Jim Marshall — one of the best defensive players in NFL history. Our hearts go out to Jim’s family, and we will always honor him as a Vikings Legend.”