Jim Marshall, the iconic defensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings and a key figure behind the legendary “Purple People Eaters” defensive front, passed away Tuesday at the age of 87 after a lengthy hospital stay due to an undisclosed illness.
Renowned as the leader of one of the most formidable defenses in NFL history, Marshall earned a lasting legacy by starting an incredible 282 consecutive games—a league record that stood for many years—cementing his status as one of the game’s true ironmen.
The Vikings’ ownership, the Wilf Family Ownership Group, expressed their sympathies in a statement shared on social media: “No one in Vikings history embodied toughness, brotherhood, and passion quite like our all-time ironman. Jim led through action, and there was no better role model.”
Former quarterback Brett Favre, who surpassed Marshall’s consecutive games streak during his tenure with the Vikings, also paid tribute on X:
“Watching players like Jim growing up taught me the value of showing up every Sunday, no matter what. Getting the chance to meet him — and play in front of him — was a true privilege. Jim didn’t seek the spotlight; he earned respect with every play. That’s the mindset I tried to bring to the game each week,” Favre wrote.
