Vikings' Purple People Eater Jim Marshall, the 'all-time iron man,' dies at 87
Article content
The Vikings announced Marshall's death on behalf of his wife, Susan. The native of Kentucky, who played at Ohio State and was drafted in 1960 by the Cleveland Browns, played 19 of his 20 seasons in the NFL with Minnesota. The two-time Pro Bowl pick set a league record for position players with 282 consecutive regular-season games played, a mark held by Marshall until quarterback Brett Favre broke it, coincidentally, with the Vikings in 2010.
Article content
Article content
'No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man,' Vikings owners Mark Wilf and Zygi Wilf said in a statement distributed by the team. '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. Jim led by example, and there was no finer example for others to follow. His impact on the Vikings was felt long after he left the field. Jim will always be remembered as a tremendous player and person. Our hearts are with his wife, Susan, and all of Jim's loved ones.'
Article content
Though sacks weren't officially tracked by the NFL until 1982, Pro Football Reference recently completed a retroactive compilation of the primary pass-rushing statistic and credited Marshall with 130 1/2 sacks, which is tied for 22nd all-time. Two other Purple People Eaters rank ahead of him: Alan Page (148 1/2) is eighth, and Carl Eller (133 1/2) is tied for 18th.
Article content
The Iron Man of Pro Football.
💜 Jim pic.twitter.com/slnIpwXyQq
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 3, 2025
Article content
Marshall remains the NFL career record-holder, now tied with Jason Taylor, for opponent fumbles recovered with 29. One of those infamously came on Oct. 25, 1964, at San Francisco when, after the Vikings forced 49ers running back Billy Kilmer to cough up the ball, Marshall scooped it up and scampered 66 yards into the end zone _ the wrong way.
Article content
After he tossed the ball in the air and turned toward the touchdown celebration with his teammates he was expecting, Marshall stopped in his tracks and put his hands on his hips in disbelief upon realizing he'd cost his team a safety. The Vikings went on to win 27-22.
Article content
'It took a lot of guts for me to go back on that field, because I took football very seriously and I had made the biggest mistake that you could probably make,' Marshall once said in an interview with NFL Films for a segment on the NFL's worst plays.
Article content
Marshall took the gaffe in stride, a graciousness made easier by his stature on the team and within the league. Long a favourite of hard-nosed head coach Bud Grant, Marshall played through the 1979 season, his final game coming two weeks before his 42nd birthday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
32 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Jared Navarre Unleashes 'I Am the One,' a Defiant Anthem from the ZILLION Universe
Single drops July 25 on all major platforms NASHVILLE, TN - July 23, 2025 - Jared Navarre, founder of the immersive music project ZILLION, is set to release his latest single, ' I Am the One,' on July 25 across Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other major streaming platforms. Written and recorded at ZILLION's Nashville headquarters, the track is a bold declaration of power, identity, and redemption. Navarre co-produced the song alongside Matt Good, with additional writing by Andy Sheridan, a multi-instrumentalist behind several number one country hits. 'This isn't just a song. It's the sound of a crown hitting the floor and me picking it up,' says Navarre. 'If you've ever been underestimated, this one's for you.' ' I Am the One ' plays a central role in ZILLION's broader storyline, marking the emergence of 'The One,' a key character in the group's mythology. The sound is aggressive and cinematic, designed to make listeners feel invincible. According to Navarre, the final chorus delivers the most powerful moment, with layered vocals and a drop that feels seismic. A stylized visualizer will accompany the single, showcasing animated elements from the ZILLION narrative world. The release also includes a new line of limited-edition merchandise that reflects the group's gritty, mythic branding. The track stands on its own as an anthem for personal reclamation, while also deepening ZILLION's evolving creative universe. Pre-save 'I Am the One' now at For press inquiries, interviews, or early access to the single, contact Gregory Linnelli ( Media Contact Company Name: Otter PR Contact Person: Gregory Linnelli Email: Send Email Phone: 4128604794 Address: 100 E Pine St Suite 110 City: Orlando State: Florida Country: United States Website:
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Pet of the week: Olive, Bryer and Georgia
Pet of the week: Olive, Bryer and Georgia Meet this week's Pets of the Week, Olive, Bryer and Georgia, three best buds who do everything together.
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
Skechers Confirms OG Anunoby Joins Its Roster
Article content LOS ANGELES — Confirming the fan speculation surrounding his headline-grabbing slam dunk in SKX REIGN™ shoes during the 2025 NBA playoffs in May, Skechers officially announces that New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has joined Team Skechers. In addition to competing in Skechers Basketball footwear, the NBA Champion and defensive powerhouse will appear in the brand's global marketing campaigns. Article content The news drops ahead of Anunoby representing the brand on a European basketball tour with fellow Skechers athlete Terance Mann of the Brooklyn Nets. The tour kicks off July 26 in Belgrade, with additional stops to follow in Berlin, Frankfurt and Zadar. Article content 'Skechers has helped me continue to play basketball at an elite level and I love these shoes,' said OG Anunoby, who wears a range of Skechers Basketball styles including the SKX NEXUS™ and SKX REIGN™. 'I play quick and low to the court. I jump and move a lot. Skechers has the shoe to keep me comfortable, keep me protected and keep me playing my best every day.' Article content 'As we grow and continue to innovate our Skechers Basketball shoes, more elite players want to join our team and bring the Comfort That Performs to their games,' said David Weinberg, chief operating officer of Skechers. 'Known for his viral dunks and defensive strength on the court, OG is a fantastic and inspiring addition to our global roster. We look forward to bringing OG and Terance Mann on tour to meet fans and the media at events with our European retail partners in the coming week.' Article content Born in London, UK, Ogugua 'OG' Anunoby grew up in Missouri from age four and excelled as a basketball phenom in high school. He was selected as a pre-season All-American by The Sporting News ahead of his freshman year at Indiana University. In 2017, he declared for the NBA draft, where he was selected 23 rd overall by the Toronto Raptors. In 2019, the Raptors won the NBA championship, making Anunoby the first British-born basketball player to ever earn the title. He was traded to the New York Knicks in 2024 and has had great success since with a career-high 18-point-per-game average last season, including reaching his career-high 40-point game versus Denver. Article content The two high-performance Skechers Basketball shoes worn by Anunoby reflect his dynamic playing style—strong, versatile, and always in control. The SKX NEXUS™ is a low-top court shoe designed for speed, stability and support, offering exceptional comfort and responsiveness. Meanwhile, the SKX REIGN™ focuses on promoting elevation and intense traction, helping Anunoby stay quick and locked in on both ends of the court. Article content Anunoby joins a Skechers roster that includes his Raptors championship teammate Norman Powell, European tour partner Terance Mann, as well as NBA players Julius Randle, Joel Embiid, Jabari Walker, and Josh Green, along with WNBA athletes Rickea Jackson, Jackie Young and Kiki Iriafen. Article content Beyond basketball, Skechers also offers performance footwear for elite and casual athletes in running, soccer, golf, pickleball/padel and cricket. Article content Skechers Basketball footwear is available at and select Skechers retail stores. Basketball fans can get behind-the-scenes access to Skechers Basketball product launches and more by following @skechersbasketball on Instagram and TikTok. Article content Skechers (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company ® based in Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company's collections are available in 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through and more than 5,300 Skechers retail stores. A Fortune 500 ® company, Skechers manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Article content This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, Skechers' future domestic and international growth, financial results and operations including expected net sales and earnings, its development of new products, future demand for its products, its planned domestic and international expansion, opening of new stores and additional expenditures, and advertising and marketing initiatives. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as 'believe,' 'anticipate,' 'expect,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'plan,' 'project,' 'will,' 'could,' 'may,' 'might,' or any variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include the disruption of business and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delays or disruptions in our supply chain; international economic, political and market conditions including the effects of inflation, tariffs and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations around the world, the challenging consumer retail markets in the United States, and the impact of wars, acts of war and other conflicts around the world; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and proper inventory levels; losing any significant customers; decreased demand by industry retailers and cancellation of order commitments due to the lack of popularity of particular designs and/or categories of products; maintaining brand image and intense competition among sellers of footwear for consumers, especially in the highly competitive performance footwear market; anticipating, identifying, interpreting or forecasting changes in fashion trends, consumer demand for the products and the various market factors described above; sales levels during the spring, back-to-school and holiday selling seasons; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in Skechers' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q in 2025. Taking these and other risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic into consideration, the dynamic nature of these circumstances means that what is stated in this press release could change at any time, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Skechers operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and we cannot predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contacts: Article content Article content Jennifer Clay Article content Article content SKECHERS U.S.A., Inc. Article content Article content
