He sacked quarterbacks and saved the lives of countless youth

Viking greats Jim Marshall, left, and Oscar Reed co-founded The Link in 1991. Link photo 

By David Pierini, Editor 

When the great Minnesota Viking Jim Marshall passed away in June, sports writers and fans on social media wrote of his gridiron heroics. 

He was the captain of the Purple People Eaters, who made four Super Bowls, a bruising sack man feared by quarterbacks. The defensive end played 19 seasons and, at one point, earned ironman status for starting in 270 consecutive games. That he is not enshrined in the Football Hall of Fame is a blown call. 

However, little was written about the countless unhoused youth who found shelter thanks to Marshall, who, in 1991, formed the Northside non-profit The Link alongside teammate Oscar Reed. 

Marshall died after a lengthy illness on June 3. He was 87. 

Marshall and Reed were unsettled by the challenges Black youth faced in North Minneapolis and the lack of services available to help them overcome crime, poverty, and homelessness. They grew the organization that, today, offers emergency housing for young families and youth, as well as street outreach, crisis intervention, and programs that lead to eventual homeownership. 

When the organization saw a rise in homelessness during the pandemic, Marshall led a drive with the Vikings organization to raise $20,000 for the organization. 

“(He) would literally do whatever it took to figure out how to jump through or crash through any barriers to getting youth help,” The Link CEO Beth Holger wrote in a statement. “He knew that there were no ‘bad kids’ but youth who weren’t getting the support or opportunities they needed. He and Oscar would help them through all kinds of crises without ever giving up on them, guiding them to a point of safety, stability, and empowerment. 

“He literally helped to change and save countless youth lives.”