Jim Marshall among the semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024

On Marshall’s candidacy by an outside measure

The late, great Bud Grant, who was confirmed in 1994, advocated for Marshall’s confirmation for years as the defensive end signified for the Vikings and one of the NFL team’s extended periods of success.

Marshall never missed a game in his 19 seasons in Minnesota. He started all 270 possible games between 1961 and 1979, as well as 19 playoff games, which included four Super Bowls. He is the lone defensive end of the quarterback group and has 130.5 career sacks.

Ask any of Marshall’s teammates and you’re likely to hear just how late his protection is.

It’s no surprise that Vikings fans have backed Marshall’s candidacy, but how does he compare to the other 30 semifinalists?

Well, with the help of pro-football-reference.com, we can compare him approximate value and weighted approximate value.

PFR founder Doug Drinen created the approximation “as an attempt to place a single number on a player’s season value at any position from any year (since 1960). Drinen also created a way to balance ‘peak production’ with ‘raw career totals’ .”

The PFR gave Marshall a career AV of 168, the highest of any 26 semifinalists whose careers began after 1960.

Former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson is next at 160, followed by former Falcons tackle Mike Kenn (139) and Browns linebacker Clay Mathews, Jr. (139). Receiver Henry Ellard, who played mostly with the Rams, checks in with 134. Defensive Tackle Steve McMichael, who spent most of his time with the Bears, is next with 128.

Marshall, Anderson, Kenn, Matthews, Ellard and McMichael are the only six semifinalists with a career AV above 117.

Running back Roger Craig, who played his last two seasons in Minnesota, was awarded 115 career AV.

As for weighted AV, PFR has a Results table 259 All-time current and former players with a weighted AV of 91 or more since 1960.

Anderson leads the group of semifinalists with 120, but Marshall is next at 102. McMichael (100) is the only other player among the semifinalists with triple-digit weighted AV.

Marshall’s weighted AV is tied with 11 other players Steve Smith, Sr., James Lofton, Curtis Martin, Logan Mankins, Dan Hampton, Steve Wisniewski, Tom Nalen, Ed Reed, Vikings Ring of Honor member Kevin Williams, Richmond Webb and Sam Mills. 127th all time.

Lofton, Martin, Hampton, Reed and Mills are in the Hall of Fame. The senior committee does not evaluate anyone else because everyone has played as recently as 1998.