EAGAN, Minn. — There's never a bad day to celebrate Jim Marshall — or appreciate the identity he helped create for the Minnesota Vikings.

Thursday, however, was particularly special at 2025 Vikings Training Camp.

Dozens that included family and friends, youth from The Link nonprofit that Marshall co-founded with former Vikings teammate Oscar Reed, and nurses and caregivers attended to celebrate the 14-time captain who passed away June 3 at the age of 87.

No. 70 was well-represented, including by Marshall's great granddaughter Kayla Jones, who runs the 400 and 800 meters for TCU and traveled from Texas.

Kayla donned a custom Vikings Classic No. 70 Marshall jersey accented by a necklace with a track shoe pendant. Her great grandfather earned it in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, for his mammoth discus throw in the 1950s. His name is inscribed on the pendant.

Kayla had heard some stories and watched some highlights from his football career, but the way Vikings fans honored "Captain Jim" enhanced her understanding of how beloved Marshall is in Minnesota.

"I've seen clips, and [a video the team played at TCO Stadium] today was really touching to see how many people he changed and motivated," Kayla said. "It just really resonated with me today. And I just feel like I needed to hear that. I needed to see that, to give me my push, so I know my grandpa was really inspiring."

Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell invited Kayla and Jim's wife, Susan, to the final huddle of Thursday's practice. He presented Kayla with a custom-painted game ball and Susan with a deep purple helmet, complete with a face mask in the style Marshall wore. It also features a No. 70 decal that matches the one the team will wear this season.

"Listening in as he's talking to the players was inspiring to me and makes me so proud of who Jim was," Susan said. "How Coach recognizes that and is keeping that alive through all the teams that are coming is so touching.

"The Wilf organization has done well by Jim," Susan added. "I'm really thankful to the Wilfs for being so generous about honoring Jim. I struggle talking without having a little tear, but coming out here is just great because training camp was, he was the 'Pied Piper.'

"He was the guy that led everybody and made sure everybody was gonna enjoy this as much as you could," said Susan, a native of Mankato, which hosted camp from 1966-2017. "Training camp is pretty darn hot and pretty brutal."

On the same day that Alan Page turned 80 (Happy Birthday, Justice Page), fellow Purple People Eater Carl Eller attended and enthusiastically posed for photos with generations of fans. Fellow Vikings Ring of Honor member Scott Studwell participated in a Q&A to share stories about the man who started the first 270 regular-season games and 19 playoff contests in franchise history. Studwell and Vikings Legend Doug Sutherland hoisted Marshall onto their shoulders after his final home game in 1979.

The Minnesota Vikings Museum also debuted a new display in honor of Marshall that features artifacts on loan from the family.

Toward the end of practice, a Monarch butterfly flitted by the media observation area, and one couldn't help but think of Bud Grant, the Minnesota icon who at least once perplexed players during a Mankato practice by talking about the migration of Monarchs. Thanks for joining the festivities, Coach.

Asked to reflect on the day, Kayla explained, "It just means that he touched a lot of people. He left his mark, and I feel like that really resonates."

"And just to see people stop and listen, and to just see how many hearts he touched, I just really appreciate it," she continued. "It just brings joy to me. It puts a smile on my face."

Susan seamlessly added, "He brought joy to a lot of people."

And still does.