COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Department of Athletics was saddened to learn Tuesday of the passing of All-American football player Jim Marshall. A brother-in-law to Marshall contacted the department alerting it of the news. Marshall was 87.
A two-time letterwinner at Ohio State (1957 and 1958) playing for Woody Hayes, Marshall was part of the 1957 national championship team that went 9-1 overall and won the Big Ten championship with a 7-0 record. The 1958 team posted a 6-1-2 record and finished second in the Big Ten at 4-1. Both the 1957 and 1958 teams defeated arch rival Michigan.
Marshall was a first-team All-American in 1958 as a defensive tackle as well as a first-team all-Big Ten Conference honoree. Marshall scored both of Ohio State’s touchdowns in a 14-14 tie with No. 8 Purdue that season. He picked up a blocked punt in the first quarter of the game and returned it “about” 22 yards, according to written reports, for Ohio State’s first score of the game. He then intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
Marshall, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1960, was a veteran of 20 seasons in the National Football League, 19 of them with the Minnesota Vikings, who he helped to four Super Bowls in the 1970s. He set then-NFL records with 270 consecutive games started and with 282 consecutive games played. He still ranks fourth all-time in consecutive games played behind Brett Favre (299), Bruce Matthews (292) and Jerry Rice (284).
He also set the NFL record with 29 career opponent fumble recoveries. He was Minnesota’s team captain for 14 consecutive seasons.
Marshall was born in Kentucky but moved to Columbus at the age of five. He attended and played for Columbus East High School.
#GoBucks
A two-time letterwinner at Ohio State (1957 and 1958) playing for Woody Hayes, Marshall was part of the 1957 national championship team that went 9-1 overall and won the Big Ten championship with a 7-0 record. The 1958 team posted a 6-1-2 record and finished second in the Big Ten at 4-1. Both the 1957 and 1958 teams defeated arch rival Michigan.
Marshall was a first-team All-American in 1958 as a defensive tackle as well as a first-team all-Big Ten Conference honoree. Marshall scored both of Ohio State’s touchdowns in a 14-14 tie with No. 8 Purdue that season. He picked up a blocked punt in the first quarter of the game and returned it “about” 22 yards, according to written reports, for Ohio State’s first score of the game. He then intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
Marshall, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1960, was a veteran of 20 seasons in the National Football League, 19 of them with the Minnesota Vikings, who he helped to four Super Bowls in the 1970s. He set then-NFL records with 270 consecutive games started and with 282 consecutive games played. He still ranks fourth all-time in consecutive games played behind Brett Favre (299), Bruce Matthews (292) and Jerry Rice (284).
He also set the NFL record with 29 career opponent fumble recoveries. He was Minnesota’s team captain for 14 consecutive seasons.
Marshall was born in Kentucky but moved to Columbus at the age of five. He attended and played for Columbus East High School.
#GoBucks
This article was published by Ohio State Buckeyes on 2025-06-04 12:28:00
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