After earning All-Big Ten honors and playing on a national championship team during his college career at Ohio State, Jim Marshall became one of the most durable players in the history of the National Football League.
Jim Marshall: Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Class of 1986
Marshall was a key member of the "Purple People Eaters."
November 22, 2019 at 4:24AM
After college, Marshall, a native of Wilsonville, Ken., played the 1959 season with Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League and the 1960 season with the NFL's Cleveland Browns.
After being traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1961, he was a fixture in the Vikings' defensive lineup until 1979. Marshall, a 6-foot-4, 248-pound defensive end started 270 consecutive games for the Vikings and along with Carl Eller, Gary Larsen and Alan Page helped form a defensive line known as the "Purple People Eaters."
He retired following the 1979 season having played in a then-NFL record 282 consecutive games (including 12 with Cleveland in 1960). His 20 NFL seasons are tied for most by a defensive player.
Marshall was named to the NFL's Pro Bowl following the 1968 and 1969 seasons and played in four Super Bowls with the Vikings.
At the time of his retirement, his 30 fumble recoveries were an NFL record and he was credited with 127 quarterback sacks. He led or tied for team lead in sacks in each of the Vikings first sin seasons (1961-1966).
He is a member of the Vikings Ring of Honor and his jersey number (#70) has been retired by the Vikings.
JIM MARSHALL
Class: 1986.
Sport: Football.
Team: Vikings.
