Jim Marshall

College career Marshall played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes (1957–1958). In 1958, he was named an All-American at tackle. He was also a track star at Ohio State University, setting school records at discus and shot put in 1958.

In 1957, the Buckeyes were 9–1 overall, 7–0 in the Big Ten Conference, and ended the season ranked second to Auburn in the Associated Press (AP) national poll, and ranked first by UPI and the Football Writers Association of American. Along with Marshall, the team included other future NFL players Jim Houston, Dick LeBeau, and Bill Jobko. Marshall played in the 1958 Rose Bowl (January 1, 1958), which the Buckeyes won 10–7 over Oregon.

The 1958 Buckeye team ended the season ranked 8th in the AP poll. In a November 1958 game against Purdue, Marshall had a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown, and a 22-yard return of a blocked punt for another touchdown; Ohio State's only two touchdowns in the game. Jim Houston had blocked the punt Marshall recovered, and deflected the pass Marshall intercepted.

In 1978, Marshall was inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame. The Roughriders had obtained Marshall's CFL rights from the Ottawa Rough Riders in April 1959. Marshall typically played defensive line, but was used on offense as well. In one game he caught a touchdown pass against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who were coached by Bud Grant, Marshall's future head coach on the Vikings. After one year, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns in an NFL–CFL transaction, being swapped for Bob Ptacek, who had played against Marshall in college at the University of Michigan.

National Football League Marshall played the 1960 season with the Browns. He contracted encephalitis during military training before the 1961 season, and was seriously ill, even being placed in an induced coma to save his life. He was traded along with five other players (including fellow defensive lineman Paul Dickson) to the expansion Minnesota Vikings in exchange for two draft picks in the 1962 NFL draft. He played from 1961 to 1979 with the Vikings and finished with a then-record 282 consecutive games played (since surpassed by punter Jeff Feagles). Marshall started 270 consecutive games while playing for the Vikings, an NFL record since surpassed by Brett Favre.

Marshall played in the Pro Bowl in 1968 and 1969. He recovered 30 fumbles during his career, an NFL record. and was the final player from Minnesota's initial expansion team of 1961 to retire. Marshall had 127 career sacks as a Viking, second-most in team history behind Eller. At the time of his retirement in 1979, Marshall had played in every game in Vikings history.

Legacy and Hall of Fame case Marshall was a two-time Pro Bowl and three-time second-team All-Pro selection. His No. 70 was retired by the Vikings and he was inducted into their Ring of Honor. In 2004, Marshall was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's second HOVG class. Marshall was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004 but was not elected. In 2008, NFL Network named Marshall the second-best player not in the Hall of Fame on their NFL Top 10 program, behind only Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jerry Kramer. Kramer would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2023 and 2024, Marshall was listed as a semifinalist for the senior nominees but failed to advance to the final 12.

Additionally, despite his 2 Pro Bowl appearances and 3 2nd team All-Pro selections, Marshall accumulated more sacks than: Pro Bowl defensive ends in 12 seasons; 1st team All-Pro defensive ends in 5 seasons; 2nd team All-Pro defensive ends in 6 seasons. He also out sacked defensive ends named to the rival American Football League All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams in each of the 10 seasons the league existed.

Marshall was a Viking team captain 14 times which remains a team record. In 2024, the Vikings honored this achievement with the Jim Marshall Vikings Captains Legacy wall at TCO Performance Center.

Many of Marshall's teammates, coaches and opponents have spoken highly of his play and leadership. Bud Grant, not one to give undue praise, repeatedly lauded Marshall as the best he ever coached saying "He's the greatest Viking we ever had." In 1974, Norm Van Brocklin said Marshall "was the best football player I had at Minnesota". Ron Yary said "He made me into a better football player because I wanted to play for Jim, I didn't want to let him down." Fran Tarkenton said "Jim Marshall set the tone for how this franchise goes today".

His fellow Purple People Eater teammates have praised Jim as well. Alan Page said "If you looked in the dictionary and tried to find the definition of a football player, Jim Marshall's picture would be there." In 1999, Jim Langer, Hall of Fame Miami Dolphins center, wrote a letter to a fan where he said "Jim Marshall is truly one of the great players in NFL history." NFL Films co-founder Steve Sabol said "No player in the history of the game ever played harder, longer than Jim Marshall. After completing the run, thinking that he had scored a touchdown for the Vikings, Marshall then pitched the ball in celebration, and the ball landed out of bounds, resulting in a safety for the 49ers. Marshall did not realize what he had done until 49ers lineman Bruce Bosley thanked him, and teammate Fran Tarkenton, who was on the near sideline, followed by telling Marshall what he had done. According to Marshall, when he approached Vikings head coach Norm Van Brocklin after the play, all Van Brocklin said was, "Well Jim, you've done the most interesting thing in this game today." Despite the gaffe, the Vikings won the game 27–22.

Marshall later received a letter from Roy Riegels, who had made a wrong way run in the 1929 Rose Bowl, stating, "Welcome to the club." In 2019, Marshall's miscue was ranked No. 54 among the NFL's 100 Greatest Plays.

NFL records Active Most seasons played by a defensive player: 20 Most complete seasons played by a defensive player: 20 Most consecutive games started, including playoffs, by a defensive player: 289 Most consecutive regular-season starts played with one team: 270 Most opponent fumbles recovered: 29 Most consecutive regular-season games started: 270 (broken by Brett Favre, 2009)

Personal life Marshall resided in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He was married twice: firstly to Anita, with whom he had two daughters, and then a second time, to Susan.

After his retirement from professional football, Marshall was involved in the financial services industry, real estate, and insurance. He was also involved with foundations serving the needs of homeless and unemployed youth. Marshall survived a hang-gliding crash in August 1980 that resulted in a broken leg, a broken arm, and a three-and-a-half-hour surgery.

The most dangerous of his exploits came in early 1971 when Marshall, teammate Paul Dickson, Minnesota sportswriter Jim Klobuchar, and 13 others went on a snowmobile run through the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming and Montana. A wind storm caused the snowmobiles to freeze up. The group was split up into three smaller parties with Marshall and Dickson having to burn the cash in their wallets to stay warm in the sub-zero-degree weather. Marshall was convicted of possession of cocaine in 1991, although he received four years of probation. He was granted a pardon in 2007.

Marshall died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 3, 2025, at the age of 87, following a period of hospitalization.