Jim Marshall lived life to the fullest on and off the field. The legendary charter member of the Purple People Eaters died today. He was 87. The Minnesota Vikings released a statement saying that Marshall had been hospitalized for an extended period of time. His cause of death has not been revealed.

He played 270 of his 282 NFL games with the Vikings. During this time, he set a longevity record that was not bested until Brett Favre played in his 283rd game in 2009, ironically in a Minnesota uniform. The only remaining honor that Marshall was denied was a deserving induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Early Days and Start of Career

Jim Marshall was born Dec. 30, 1937, in Danville, Ky. Tragically, his mother, Ann, died when he was 17. He said about this moment. “She died in my arms one morning fixing breakfast for me before I went to school. “That influenced my life a lot. From then on, I was determined. It changed me. I wanted to do something, to be something, to make something big out of my life.”

His family moved to Columbus, Ohio, when he was five. He attended Columbus’ East High School, where the football team was twice undefeated. Marshall was selected for the All-State and All-City teams, and he was also named a high school All-American. He then moved on to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes for two seasons. He was an All-American defensive tackle in 1958 and a star on the track team, where he set school records in the discus and shot put. Marshall is a member of the Ohio State Hall of Fame.

Jim Marshall’s Pro Career

Marshall left Ohio State early due to financial reasons and played his first professional season for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League under future Vikings head coach Bud Grant. In 1960, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he contracted encephalitis while at a military camp and was placed in an induced coma to save his life. Fully recovered, Marshall was traded to Minnesota in a five-player deal. And this is when his legendary career really took off.

Marshall would go on to star for the Vikings for 19 seasons, where he finished a consecutive game streak of 282 games that was an NFL record at the time. When he retired in 1979, Marshall had played in every game in Vikings history. He was named to two Pro Bowl teams (1969, 1970) and was a member of the aforementioned “Purple People Eaters” defensive line, along with tackle Gary Larsen, later replaced by Doug Sutherland, and Hall of Famers tackle Alan Page and end Carl Eller.

He finished his career with 130.5 sacks and 29 fumble recoveries, a record that was later tied by Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor. And Marshall was one of only 11 Vikings to play in all of Minnesota’s Super Bowl appearances (unfortunately, all losses). A longtime captain of the team, Marshall is regarded as one of the greatest team leaders in sports history. The Vikings retired his number 70 in 1999, and he was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2004.

After Football and a Gusto for Life

After retiring from football, Marshall explored various business ventures and became involved in community work. He and former teammate Oscar Reed co-founded The Link, an organization that supports youth and families experiencing homelessness and young people who are survivors of sex trafficking, as well as youth involved in the juvenile justice system. He remained a constant presence around Vikings headquarters, even contributing a poem, “Heart of a Viking,” poem that has become a fixture of the team’s player introductions at U.S. Bank Stadium.

And off the field, he had an unquenchable thirst for life. He was a skydiver, tried hand gliding, and almost perished on a winter snowmobile trip. But always seeking the next adventure or adrenaline rush, his personal life may have been even more interesting and exciting than his exploits on the football field.

In Memory

Memorials to Marshall flooded in on word of his passing. Owners of the Vikings, the Wilf Family, released this statement.

“No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man. A cornerstone of the franchise from the beginning, Captain Jim’s unmatched durability and quiet leadership earned the respect of teammates and opponents throughout his 20-year career,”

Carl Eller said of his longtime teammate and friend.

“Jim Marshall is not dead. He is alive in my heart and in my soul and he will always be my friend. He was inspirational to our team. Every week he was ready to go. That’s what everybody looked for and waited for. And sometimes just a minute before a game he would show up and say ‘Let’s go, let’s do it.’ I love Jim Marshall.”

I hope the Hall of Fame beckons soon to honor the great Jim Marshall.