A legend of football and a Buckeye great passed away on Tuesday.
Former defensive end Jim Marshall, known as the NFL's Ironman and one of the famed Purple People Eaters for the Minnesota Vikings, died at the age of 87 on Tuesday after a long hospitalization.
"The entire Minnesota Vikings organization is mourning the loss of Jim Marshall," Vikings owner Mark Wilf and their ownership group said in a statement. "No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man. 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.