“There’s a picture of him that I have that says it all,” said Grant, who died in 2023. “He’s standing on the football field. Everything’s all muddy. It’s snowing. And Jim’s got that look. He represented the Vikings better than any player we’ve ever had. He and Mick [Tingelhoff]. The absolute cornerstone of the Minnesota Vikings. That’s Jim Marshall.” And he never missed a game. Including playoffs, Marshall played 301 consecutive games, third all-time behind punter Jeff Feagles (363) and Favre (323). His 289 consecutive games started, including playoffs, is second behind Favre’s 321. “Jim Marshall is not dead,” Eller said in a statement released by the team. “He is alive in my heart and in my soul and he will always be my friend. He was inspirational to our team. Every week he was ready to go. That’s what everybody looked for and waited for. And sometimes just a minute before a game he would show up and say ‘Let’s go, let’s do it.’ I love Jim Marshall.” As Fred Zamberletti, the Vikings’ first and longtime trainer who died in 2018, said: “Marshall would take care of problems for Bud. They throw around the term ‘leader’ in sports. Marshall was the true leader of the Vikings.” Marshall paid the price for his ironman career. Eight years ago, he recounted his post-career medical issues. “I’ve had the [right] ankle operated on twice. I’ve had numerous knee surgeries, but I have two replacements now. I’ve got two artificial hips. I’ve had five operations on one shoulder and six on the other.