Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall, who played 20 years in the NFL, has died at age 87. The team announced his death without providing further details about the cause or his treatment.
Career Highlights
- Longevity: Marshall’s career with the Vikings is notable for its longevity, as he played 270 consecutive games.
- Fumble Recovery Record: He holds a unique record among defensive ends, recovering 30 fumbles.
Memorable Play
One of Marshall’s most famous plays occurred on October 25, 1964, during a game against San Francisco. He recovered a fumble and returned it in the wrong direction. Instead of scoring what would have been his first touchdown as an NFL player, he pitched the ball out of bounds after crossing the goal line for a safety.
In an interview with The Associated Press years later, Marshall explained that he didn’t realize he had crossed into enemy territory until it was too late:
"I just knew I had to get back upfield."
Despite the mistake, Marshall’s actions turned out to be beneficial for his team. He forced another fumble that teammate Carl Eller returned for a touchdown in Minnesota’s victory over San Francisco that day.
Looking back on that play, Marshall humorously remarked:
"That’s probably why they call me Mr. Wrong Way."
However, as far as results were concerned – and ultimately what mattered most – "we won anyway," according to AP archives from November 2020 when AP interviewed him about this play from more than half a century ago.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
