Jim Marshall, longtime Vikings defensive and member of ‘Purple People Eaters,' dies at 87
Jim Marshall, a key member of the Minnesota Vikings' vaunted 'Purple People Eaters' defensive line of the 1960s and '70s who also gained a place in NFL lore when he infamously scooped up a fumble and ran the wrong way into his own team's end zone, died on Tuesday following a lengthy hospitalization. He was 87.
The #Vikings family mourns the loss of Legend Jim Marshall.
Marshall set the standard for what it meant to be a Minnesota Viking, starting 270 consecutive games, appearing in 4 Super Bowls and serving as team captain for 14 consecutive seasons. https://t.co/o2avKghyWG pic.twitter.com/XOU4etfuWI
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 3, 2025
Marshall played 20 seasons in the NFL, including 19 with the Vikings, whom he joined in 1961. A 14-time captain with Minnesota, Marshall started 270 consecutive regular-season games at defensive end and was on the team for all four of its Super Bowl appearances. From 1967 to 1977, he, Alan Page, Gary Larsen and Carl Eller formed the 'Purple People Eaters,' a moniker taken from a popular rock song.
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Marshall was selected in the fourth round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He was then traded to Minnesota after his rookie season and stayed for the duration of his career. He was inducted into the Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor in 2014.
Despite all of his success, the most memorable moment of Marshall's career was a mishap. In a 1964 game at San Francisco, Marshall scooped up a 49ers' fumble and took off for the end zone. When he arrived, he flipped the ball to the referee. The only problem? The end zone was Minnesota's and the play resulted in a safety and two points for San Francisco. The NFL later named the gaffe one of the 100 most memorable plays in league history.
This story will be updated.
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