### Jim Marshall, Legendary Viking Defensive End, Dies at 87

Jim Marshall, an iconic Minnesota Viking who set an NFL record by starting 270 consecutive games as a defensive player, passed away on Tuesday in Minneapolis at the age of 87. His wife, Susan Landwehr Marshall, confirmed his death, without specifying the cause, but noted he had been ill for an extended period.

Marshall was a foundational player for the Vikings, starting every game over the franchise's first 19 seasons and participating in four Super Bowl appearances as a member of the team’s renowned defensive line, the Purple People Eaters. The unit, famously named after a popular song, included fellow Vikings greats like Carl Eller, Alan Page, and Gary Larsen. Known for his durability, Marshall's record was eventually surpassed by Brett Favre, who made 297 consecutive starts.

Jim Marshall will always be remembered for a career which saw him collect 130.5 career sacks and 30 fumble recoveries. Despite these impressive statistics, Marshall is perhaps most famously known for a 1964 incident where he recovered a fumble and ran 66 yards into the wrong end zone, resulting in a safety for the San Francisco 49ers. Showing remarkable resilience, he continued to play that season and throughout his career without letting the error overshadow his contributions on the field.

He was born on December 30, 1937, in Danville, Kentucky, and raised in Columbus, Ohio, where he overcame a difficult childhood to become a star athlete at Ohio State. He excelled in both football and track and field before starting his professional career in the Canadian Football League and later with the Cleveland Browns prior to joining the Vikings in 1961.

Marshall was known off the field as a daredevil, an adrenaline junkie involved in activities like skydiving and hang gliding. He experienced a significant health scare in the off-season following his rookie year when a mosquito bite led to encephalitis, but he bounced back to lead the Vikings in sacks for each of his first six seasons with the team.

His post-football career included work in brokerage and real estate. Marshall's first marriage ended in divorce, but he continued to find happiness with his second wife, Susan, whom he married in 2008. He is survived by Susan, his daughters Angie Marshall Moore and Jimi Belanger, one sister Deloris Bosley, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Despite his significant contributions to the sport, Marshall was never inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, although he was a finalist in 2004.

Jim Marshall’s legacy as a dedicated and resilient player continues to inspire, and he remains an unforgettable figure in the history of the Minnesota Vikings.