Wilber Marshall
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| Wilber Marshall | |
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| Position(s): Linebacker |
Jersey #(s): 58, 55 |
| Born: April 18, 1962 Titusville, Florida |
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| Career Information | |
| Year(s): 1984–1995 | |
| NFL Draft: 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11 | |
| College: Florida | |
| Professional Teams | |
| Career Stats | |
| Sacks | 45 |
| Interceptions | 23 |
| Touchdowns | 3 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| Career Highlights and Awards | |
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Wilber Buddyhia Marshall (born April 18, 1962 in Titusville, Florida) is a former American football player. Marshall played linebacker in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, the Washington Redskins, the Houston Oilers, the Arizona Cardinals, and the New York Jets. He won two Super Bowls in his career, Super Bowl XX as a member of the 1985 Bears, and Super Bowl XXVI with the 1991 Redskins. Marshall was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1986, 1987 and 1992 seasons.
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[edit] College career
Marshall attended the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Florida Gators football team. Marshall was named "National Defensive Player of the Year" in 1983 by ABC Sports. Marshall was All-American and a finalist for the Lombardi Award in both 1982 and 1983. In 1999, the University of Florida named Marshall a first-team selection to the "Team of the Century", and also named Marshall the "Defensive Player of the Century". He made the College Football All-America Team twice (1982, 1983) and left Florida with 343 tackles and school record 23 sacks[1] On August 16, 2007, Marshall was named to the University of Florida's Ring of Honor, joining Florida greats Steve Spurrier, Jack Youngblood, Emmitt Smith, and Danny Wuerffel[2].
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Chicago Bears
Marshall is perhaps best known as a significant member of two Super Bowl championship teams, the 1985 Bears and the 1991 Redskins. In 1985, the Bears, behind one of the most celebrated defenses in league history, finished the regular season 15-1, shut out both opponents in the playoffs, and beat the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. Many people did not notice Marshall because of fellow linebacker Mike Singletary, but many fellow players felt that Marshall was just as good as Singletary, if not better. Perhaps Marshall's most memorable moment in the 1985 postseason was in the NFC Championship Game, against the Los Angeles Rams. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, snow began to fall at Soldier Field, elicting loud applause from the Bears fans in attendance. On the next play, Bears defensive end Richard Dent sacked Rams quarterback Dieter Brock, causing Brock to fumble the football. Marshall picked up the loose football and alongside with William Perry, ran 52 yards through the falling snow. The Bears beat the Rams 24-0, and Marshall's fumble return for touchdown continues to be the highlight from that game most replayed. Fox News Chicago also named that play to be the most iconic moment of the game, and of the season, as well. Many people surmise that the snow was George Halas giving his approval of the team. He also had a good performance in the Super Bowl, recording a sack and recovering a fumble.
[edit] Washington Redskins
Marshall won another championship ring with the Redskins in the 1991 season, when they beat the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in Super Bowl XXVI, and Marshall finished the game with several tackles and a sack. A week before that, he had a superb performance in the Redskins 41-10 win over the Detroit Lions, sacking Detroit quarterback Erik Kramer 3 times.
In his 12 NFL seasons, Marshall recorded 45 sacks and intercepted 23 passes, which he returned for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also recovered 16 fumbles, returning them for 70 yards and 1 touchdown. He is among the few players who have recorded 20 Sacks/20 Interceptions in their career.
[edit] After football
Marshall’s years of excellence were slowly eroded by the numerous injuries from his professional career. His health declined as the years progressed, but he refused to receive surgery to mend his injured spine, shoulders, and knees. Permanently disabled, Marshall’s days of battling other players have been replaced with days of fighting with the NFL and the players' union over a settlement pertaining to his injuries. His former coach, Mike Ditka, has aided in Marshall’s fight by forming a coalition to raise additional awareness. [3]
[edit] Honors
Marshall was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Marshall is a 2007 inductee into the Gator Football Ring of Honor. He became the fifth former Gator player to be inducted, on September 29, 2007, before the Florida-Auburn football game. [4]
As a former player at Astronaut High School, he was named in 2007 to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ 05-2006 History&Tradition_pp128-152
- ^ Gator Football News @ GatorZone.com
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/saraceno/2007-01-31-wilber-marshall_x.html
- ^ Gator Football News @ GatorZone.com
- ^ Palm Beach Post accessed December 31, 2007
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