Bobby Marshall: Career History

Date of Birth: March 12, 1880
Position: Defensive Lineman (DL)

Teams:

• RI (Rock Island Independents) - 1920
• DUL (Duluth Eskimos) - 1925

Career Overview:

Bobby Marshall was a pioneering player in the early years of professional football. He played as a defensive lineman during a time when the NFL was just beginning to establish itself as a major sports league.

Highlights and Accomplishments:

• Marshall was among the first African-American players to compete in the NFL, breaking racial barriers in a predominantly white league.
• He played for the Rock Island Independents in 1920, contributing to one of the league's inaugural seasons.
• Later, he joined the Duluth Eskimos, where he continued to showcase his skills on the field, playing through the 1925 season.

Legacy:

Bobby Marshall's contributions to the NFL remain significant, particularly in the context of diversity and inclusion in professional sports. His journey reflects the challenges and triumphs faced by early African-American athletes in the league. While detailed statistics from his playing days may be limited, his role as a trailblazer in the NFL is recognized and celebrated by football historians and fans alike.