EAGAN, Minn. — An error of omission in the hearts and minds of Vikings teammates and coaches — and even rivals — is continuing.
Vikings Ring of Honor member Jim Marshall was omitted Thursday as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Seniors Committee narrowed a group of 31 semifinalists to 12 who are being considered for the Class of 2024.
Marshall's 270 consecutive starts in regular-season games with Minnesota is the most by any defensive player in NFL history and ranks second among any player all-time.
To be nominated by the Seniors Committee, a player must have concluded his career before the 1998 season. The group will narrow the 12 remaining candidates to three on Aug. 22, and the 49-member selection committee will vote on the final three.
After opening his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns in 1960, the Ohio native played the entirety of the Minnesota Vikings first two decades. He retired at the conclusion of the 1979 season, making his final start on Dec. 16, two weeks and two days before turning 42.
Marshall joined the Vikings via a trade by the Browns just before the 1961 season. He arrived by car in time to start in the Week 1 upset of the heavily favored Chicago Bears.
He became a team captain — actually, "The Captain" — who was heavily respected, helping the Vikings advance to four Super Bowls. He finished his career with 130.5 sacks, a stat that didn't become official until 1982.
The late Bud Grant, who was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994, wasn't shy to tell others that Marshall belongs in the Hall of Fame. Grant frequently pointed out how much he meant to the overall success of the team.
View throwback photos of Vikings players from the 1960s and 1970s. The Vikings will wear these Classic jerseys again Week 1 of the 2023 season against the Buccaneers.
Fran Tarkenton, who teamed with Marshall from 1961-66 and 1972-78, has long championed for Marshall to join he and Grant in Canton. Tarkenton participated in a q-and-a with Season Ticket Members on July 18 as he helped unveil The Classic throwback jersey.
Tarkenton was asked about his emotions when presenting his center Mick Tingelhoff for enshrinement in 2015. Tingelhoff started 240 consecutive games from 1962-78.
"It was a great moment for all of us because he so richly deserved it, and in that regard, I sure hope Jim Marshall gets in because he could be the greatest Viking of all. He was just a great leader … and he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame because he was as great a player as our teams have ever had."
Earlier this month, we used pro-football-reference.com's approximate value and weighted approximate value as an independent source of ranking Marshall’s candidacy.
PFR assigned a career AV of 168 to Marshall, which was the highest of any of the 26 semifinalists whose careers began after 1960.
As for weighted AV, PFR has a leaderboard of 259 current and former players all-time who have a weighted AV of 91 or higher since 1960.
Ken Anderson led the group of semifinalists at 120, but Marshall was next at 102. Steve McMichael (100) was the only other player among the semifinalists with a triple-digit weighted AV.
