Jim Marshall, a tough-nosed defensive lineman in the NFL following an All-American career at Ohio State, has died at age 87.

Part of Minnesota’s famed unit the Purple People Eaters, he started a record 270 consecutive games. Also famously, he once scooped up a fumble and ran to the wrong end zone.

"The entire Minnesota Vikings organization is mourning the loss of Jim Marshall," Minnesota's ownership group said in a statement. "No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man.