Minnesota Vikings announce 8 captains for 2024 season, honor legendary Purple People Eater

Minnesota Vikings honor Jim Marshall with legacy display

The Vikings named their eight captains for the 2024 season with three coming from offense, three from defense and two from special teams.

• QB Sam Darnold
• FB C.J. Ham-4th season
• WR Justin Jefferson-2nd season
• OT Brian O'Neill-4th season
• DT Harrison Phillips
• S Harrison Smith-5th season
• S Josh Metellus-3rd season
• LS Andrew DePaola

It's the first time that Darnold, Phillips and DePaola will serve as captains for the Vikings. It's healthy for a team to have a blend of new and continued leadership, which is exactly what the Vikings have.

They were named in conjunction with the unveiling of the Jim Marshall legacy display. The Vikings website shared a conversation between Alan Page and Bobby Bryant during a recent joint interview where they were discussing Marshall's impact. Page was talking about how Jim was a leader among others and Bryant interjected quickly.

"Jim was The Captain," Bryant interjected.

Marshall played for the Vikings from 1961-1979 and was the ultimate iron man in the National Football League. He should be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame but hasn't gotten the call yet. 

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spoke about Marshall and glowed about his leadership.

"Nobody led a football team like Jim did, led this team and this organization to so much success during his career here, meant so much to so many Vikings fans, Coach Bud Grant, to everyone here at our organization," O'Connell said. "We thought, 'What better way to honor Jim and what we believe to be his Hall of Fame career not only as a player but as the genuine example we have all our captains strive to be like here at the Minnesota Vikings?' "

Quite the honor for Marshall, who has earned everything that has been given to him.