Why isn’t Jim Marshall in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
By Adam Patrick
No First-Team All-Pro selections
Having at least one First-Team All-Pro selection is very important when it comes to getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Jim Marshall had none during his career with the Vikings.
Of the 279 players who have been enshrined into the Hall of Fame, 92 percent of them had at least one First-Team All-Pro selection during their time in professional football. And the majority of those who have been inducted without ever being named a First-Team All-Pro in their careers, made up for it by earning at least five invitations to the Pro Bowl.
In his 19 years with Minnesota, Marshall was never selected as a First-Team All-Pro and he was only voted to two Pro Bowls.
It may seem silly to some, but these sorts of things matter to Hall of Fame voters. First-Team All-Pro selections are an easy way to single out the absolute best players in the NFL and Marshall was never given the honor once during his career.
If people don’t think someone is among the best players in the league during his actual career, then why would they think otherwise after his time on the field is over?