On the latest livestream edition of “Listen In With KNN” sports talk podcast and radio show with award-winning host Kelsey Nicole Nelson, two-time Super Bowl champion and New York Giants great Leonard Marshall joined the show to share his insights on today’s NFL and discuss life after football.
Marshall had a storied twelve-year career in the National Football League. His time on the Giants led to two Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro second-team selections. Marshall was also named the NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year in both 1985 and 1986, fitting in seamlessly with the Giants’ prolific “Big Blue Wrecking Crew” defense. He also played one season with the New York Jets and finished his career with the Washington Redskins.
Before diving into Marshall’s personal story, Nelson first asked the legend to share some of his thoughts on the current NFL landscape. More specifically, she asked Marshall to explain how the league has changed since his glory days in the 1980s. Rather than focusing on the modern style of play, Marshall alluded to the changes he has observed in the business side of the league.
He explained, “Free agency has created such imbalance…You used to stack the chips and build a real nucleus and core value of your team, and it was all about your guys in the locker room and the culture you develop. It’s tough to develop culture now because players are always moving.”
Next, Nelson brought up some new players making a name for themselves through four weeks of play, including a rookie continuing to build upon his draft stock for the hometown Washington Commanders Jayden Daniels. Marshall and Daniels are both proud LSU alumni. Prior to his stint in the NFL, Marshall visited his alma mater and had a chance to watch the young quarterback dominate his way to the Heisman Trophy last year. He foresees a bright future for the Commanders with Daniels at the helm of the offense.
Marshall recalled, “I thought Jayden was the best quarterback in the draft last year, probably the best player in the draft…I can honestly tell you I’m very excited for the city of D.C. You’ve finally got the next level of Doug Williams back on the planet in D.C.”
The pair then shifted their conversation to Marshall’s pursuits after his playing days were over. His life has featured many endeavors that strive to impact social change. For example, in August, Marshall was named a national ambassador for the Police Athletic League (PAL). He hopes to use this position to continue giving back to the community, specifically to strengthen the bond between the youth and law enforcement.
He powerfully stated, “It means I get a chance to go and try to help right a wrong. You know, I’m tired of picking up the remote and turning the TV channel, Kelsey, and seeing another Black man getting shot over something stupid…I think we, as a people, we have a moral responsibility to look at some of the issues that are causing these things to happen.”
Another example of Marshall’s activism is his integral role in the class action concussion lawsuit against the NFL. Nearly five thousand former players sued the league for its refusal to compensate players with head injuries and subsequent cognitive decline due to football. The case is just as relevant in today’s NFL, especially in light of the recent injury to Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa. Marshall opened up to Nelson about why the cause is so important to him.
“80 percent of the National Football League are African American, so most of these players when they retire from the game, that end up with these problems, they’re people like me…Many of them don’t have the money to support themselves outside of football. Nor do they have the health insurance coverage…We put all of that into creating the National Football League. Why can’t we get their help and support?” Marshall asked.
Nelson echoed this sentiment, adding “I think we have to remember that outside of the helmet and outside of the cleats, these are men…Health is wealth, at the end of the day. And we want these men to live to see another day.”
Marshall himself has experienced some health complications since retiring, including early-stage Parkinson’s, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. When Nelson asked him about the vulnerability involved in sharing his diagnosis with the world, Marshall credited his family with supporting him through everything. He also mentioned former Alabama coach Nick Saban’s “theory of nothingness” as a reminder of how to stay motivated.
Marshall said, “If you don’t get up and face the world every day, you can’t expect nothing from it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’m glad I’ve been able to surround myself with good, positive people…Those who inspire me, I stay close to, and those that don’t, I kind of let them fall to the wayside, Kelsey.”
The twelve-year pro is also an embodiment of what it means to be a lifelong learner. While he was still in the league, Marshall enrolled in the Fairleigh Dickinson University program for undergraduate athletes to finish the bachelor’s degree he began at LSU. Then, once he retired from football, he continued his education by earning a masters degree in finance from Seton Hall University. Marshall has always sought opportunities to better himself, but he knows that it isn’t always easy.
He reassured his listeners, “Don’t be afraid of failure! All the young people…failure is your best friend. It’s just a step towards success. You have to see it that way. I’m telling you, you have to.”
Amidst all of his non-football pursuits over the decades, Marshall’s influence on the game has not been lost. In 2022, he was recognized for his impact on the New York Giants organization with an induction into their Ring of Honor. And, to celebrate the franchise’s 100th season, the Giants just released a list of their top 100 players, featuring Marshall coming in at 26th.
There’s one more accolade he has his eyes on, though: a gold jacket. Although his exclusion from the immortality of a Hall of Fame induction may be more political than anything else – he was, after all, part of a lawsuit against the NFL – Marshall still thinks about his career with the utmost pride.
He reflects, “My contributions speak for themselves…Both as a player and as a human being. I’ve done some things in my life that folks would dream of doing…I’m blessed, what can I say?”
The duo concluded their wide-ranging conversation with the question of legacy. Nelson asked Marshall if he had any parting advice for the NFL’s current batch of young players, and he responded that he hopes to be an inspiration to them.
Marshall wisely said, “Create that legacy for you, your family, and all those people you care about and you love. Because I’ll tell you, one day the money you make from football, you’re gonna either run out of it or it’s gonna fly away from you…What will keep you near and dear to your heart is what you did as a player, the legacy you built in perpetuity…The money will come. Just go be great at something.”
Listen to the full show below.
