Marshall

Kevin SeifertJun 3, 2025, 03:48 PM ET
Close

EAGAN, Minn. — Longtime Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall, who for decades held the NFL record for most consecutive games played, died Tuesday after a long hospitalization, according to the team. He was 87.

Marshall joined the Vikings in their inaugural season in 1961 and played in every game thereafter. His record of 282 consecutive games played (270 with the Vikings), which he established upon retiring in 1979, stood until quarterback Brett Favre broke it — while also in a Vikings uniform — in 2009.

Marshall attended a Vikings practice that season to congratulate Favre and said at the time: “I told him I admired his career and was really happy that he was the one that is breaking that record.”

Former Vikings great Jim Marshall played in 282 consecutive games during his 20-year career, a record that stood until Brett Favre broke it in 2009 while also wearing a Minnesota uniform. Vernon Biever/AP Photo

Marshall gained a permanent place in NFL Films lore in 1964 when he returned a fumble the wrong way in a game against the San Francisco 49ers, celebrating what he thought was a touchdown but instead was a safety. But his career accomplishments far outweighed that gaffe.

Marshall remains the NFL career record-holder, now tied with Jason Taylor, for opponent fumbles recovered with 29.

He was a Vikings captain for 14 seasons and appeared in four Super Bowls as part of the franchise’s famed Purple People Eaters defense. Although sacks did not become an official statistic until 1982, a research project coordinated by Pro Football Reference credited him with 130.5, which would tie him for No. 22 in NFL history. Two other Purple People Eaters rank ahead of him: Alan Page (148.5) is eighth, and Carl Eller (133.5) is tied for 18th.

“The entire Minnesota Vikings organization is mourning the loss of Jim Marshall. No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man,” Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement.

“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. Jim led by example, and there was no finer example for others to follow. His impact on the Vikings was felt long after he left the field. Jim will always be remembered as a tremendous player and person. Our hearts are with his wife, Susan, and all of Jim’s loved ones.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source link

Moving into a new product category is a nervy undertaking for any company, and the current climate of tariff roulette only adds another level of uncertainty. But Marshall, manufacturer of iconic guitar amps and a growing portfolio of wireless speakers and headphones, is marching on regardless, with the launch of its first soundbar. And at $1000, the Atmos-capable Heston 120 is an ambitious first entry.

“This is our most expensive product. And honestly, that’s a little bit scary,” Gustaf Rosell, Marshall’s chief product and innovation officer, tells WIRED in an interview. “But since it’s a new segment for us, we made the decision that we wanted to start at the high end. We don’t always do that, but in this case we thought it was important to make a statement—to show that we are really serious about it.

The idea of adding a soundbar to its line up is one that has been kicking around company discussions for the past five years, Rosell says, but been in production for about three of them. The result is the Heston 120, a 5.1.2-channel Atmos and DTS X soundbar, with 11 separate drivers positioned to offer a wide and high soundfield from a single box.

Tuning a product for so many channels has been a new challenge for Marshall, and it brought new expertise on board to help—even pulling in talent from the automotive industry for their multi-channel experience. “Right now we have two PhDs in house, it’s that level of competence,” Rosell adds. “We also worked really closely with Dolby to help us with some difficult measurements, to ensure that we are placing objects of sound accurately in a room.”

The Heston 120 leans into Marshall’s recognizable product design language, borrowed from its guitar amps.

Courtesy of Marshall

However, a particular focus for the sound team, Rosell tells us, has been about getting the balance right between sounding good for TV and also good for music—a common difficulty for multi-channel audio products. The Heston 120 certainly comes with plenty of music options to put it to the test, including AirPlay 2, Googlecast, and Bluetooth LE, plus Tidal and Spotify Connect.

“Music playback is an area where we have been able to lean into our current expertise, and use some of the modelling from our portable speakers to ensure all of the drivers in the Heston 120 are working just as well together in a more classical stereo setup too. And if I’m to be a little bit bold, we’ve beaten everything we’ve heard from competitors. It’s one of the things I am most proud of with this product.”

Another key focus for the team was the product’s design, but not perhaps in the way that anyone familiar with Marshall products might think. While its speakers are well known for their distinct look, reminiscent of the brand’s famous amplifiers, Heston 120 dials back that approach, just a bit.

Courtesy of Marshall

“Many products in this area look pretty much the same, they’re trying to blend in, and when TVs are doing their best to hide themselves more and more, you do need to find the right tone.

“But Heston is a conscious design choice for people who want something different—we are not trying to hide. It’s a bold statement, but not as bold as we could have been. I think we’ve found a balance that feels authentic.”

Source link

Vikings great Jim Marshall, who played in 282 straight games, dies

Marshall Takes On Sonos With Its First Soundbar