MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Jim Marshall, the legendary Vikings defensive lineman who helped earn Minnesota’s fearsome front line the nickname “Purple People Eaters,” died Tuesday at age 87 following a prolonged hospitalization for an undisclosed illness.

In addition to being the captain of one of the NFL’s greatest defensive units, Marshall set a league record that stood for decades by starting an astounding 282 consecutive games, solidifying his reputation as an ironman of the sport.

Vikings leadership, the Wilf Family Ownership Group, offered its condolences to Marshall’s family with a statement shared to social media: “No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie, and passion more than the all-time iron man...Jim led by example, and there was no finer example

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