Vikings’ Purple People Eater Jim Marshall, the ‘all-time iron man,’ dies at 87
June 3, 2025
Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall has died after a long hospitalization for an undisclosed illness. He was 87. Marshall was one of the four members of the famed Purple People Eaters front that formed the backbone of four Super Bowl teams. The Vikings announced Marshall’s death Tuesday on behalf of his wife, Susan. He 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 games played. That mark was held by Marshall until Brett Favre broke it with the Vikings in 2010.
