Jim Marshall Again Named Senior Semifinalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame
Once again, legendary Vikings defensive tackle Jim Marshall has been named a Senior semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
31 players — who all appeared in their final NFL game no later than the 1998 season — are moving onto the next round of consideration. The Seniors Committee will now cut the list down to 12 players in a couple weeks, before ultimately selecting up to three Seniors for final consideration for the class of 2024.
Unfortunately, Marshall's odds probably aren't great. Last year, he didn't even make the cut as one of 12 finalists. Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, and Ken Riley were the three Seniors inducted into the Hall in the class of 2023.
Why Marshall remains on the outside looking in when it comes to Canton is a mystery. He's one of the greatest players to ever don a Vikings uniform, the ultimate iron man, and a key member of one of the most iconic defensive lines in league history. Marshall, who was a finalist in 2004 but didn't get in, deserves to be seriously considered in the Seniors category one of these years.
Here's what I wrote last year about Marshall and the Hall of Fame:
An argument can be made that no player epitomizes Minnesota Vikings football more than Marshall. After one season with the Browns, Marshall spent the next 19 seasons (1961-1979) with the Vikings. He was the ultimate iron man, setting records (at the time) for consecutive games played (282) and consecutive starts (270). To do that as a defensive lineman is truly remarkable and might be one of the more under-appreciated feats in NFL history.
Marshall still holds both records among defensive players. His consecutive games streak ranks third all-time, behind punter Jeff Feagles and quarterback Brett Favre. His starts streak ranks second, behind only Favre. To put Marshall's 270 consecutive starts into context, no other defensive player in the league's history has more than 215.
Marshall's 130.5 career sacks in 20 seasons are tied for 22nd-most in NFL history. 16 of the top 25 players on the all-time sacks leaderboard are in the Hall of Fame, and that number will become 18 when Julius Peppers and Terrell Suggs undoubtedly get in when they're eligible. Jared Allen and DeMarcus Ware, two other members of that top 25, might also end up getting in. Marshall's 128 sacks with the Vikings trails only former teammate Carl Eller, who had 130.5.
Simply put, Marshall deserves to be a Hall of Famer. Even though he was a Pro Bowler only twice (1968 and 1969), an All-Pro three times (1964, '68, and '69), and had just four seasons with 10-plus sacks, his importance and productivity goes beyond sack numbers. Marshall was a key member of the Purple People Eaters defensive line with Eller, Alan Page, and Gary Larsen, playing in four Super Bowls with the Vikings. His 30 career fumble recoveries trails only Rod Woodson among defensive players all-time. And Marshall's durability, toughness, and leadership shouldn't be overlooked.
Plus, it's important to remember that Marshall racked up his sacks in an era with 14-game seasons and fewer passing attempts. From 1962 to 1971, he recorded 92.5 sacks in 140 games (9.25 per season). That's equivalent to averaging 10.6 sacks per season for ten years in an era of 16-game seasons, and his numbers would've been much higher if he played in a more pass-heavy era of football.
Maybe this will be the year?
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