View source for Leonard Marshall

{{Short description|American football player (born 1961)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image       = Leonard Marshall.jpg
| caption     = Marshall in 2011
| position    = [[Defensive end]]
| number      = 70
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1961|10|22|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Franklin, Louisiana]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 3
| weight_lbs  = 288
| draftyear   = 1983
| draftround  = 2
| draftpick   = 37
| high_school = [[St. Mary Parish School Board|Franklin (LA)]]
| college     = [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]]
| teams       = 
* [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|1983}}–{{NFL Year|1992}})
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|1993}})
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1994}})
| highlights  =  
* 2× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXI|XXI]], [[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]])
* 2× Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1985 All-Pro Team|1985]], [[1986 All-Pro Team|1986]])
* 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1986 Pro Bowl|1985]], 1986, [[1987 Pro Bowl|1991]])
* [[New York Giants Ring of Honor]]
| statlabel1  = [[Games played]]
| statvalue1  = 177
| statlabel2  = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2  = 83.5
| statlabel3  = [[Tackle (football move)|Tackles]]
| statvalue3  = 714
| pfr         = M/MarsLe00
}}

'''Leonard Allen Marshall Jr.''' (born October 22, 1961) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Defensive end|defensive lineman]] for twelve seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL).  Selected 37th overall in the [[1983 NFL draft]], he spent the first ten seasons of his career with the [[New York Giants]] where he accumulated 79.5 sacks, ranking him third in team history.  He was twice selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] and twice named NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year following the 1985 and 1986 seasons.  He won two championships with the Giants, recording three and a half sacks in the two [[Super Bowl]] games which he played in.  Marshall is most famously known for his 1991 hit on [[Joe Montana]] that knocked him out of the NFC championship game, after which Montana would not play another regular season game for almost two years.  After his time with the Giants, Marshall went on to play a season each for the [[New York Jets]] and [[Washington Redskins]] before retiring from football at the age of 33.  Marshall played college football at [[Louisiana State University]].

Marshall has been active in several business and entrepreneurial activities since retiring.  He also has spent time as a football camp instructor, a football head coach, written a couple of books,an Executive in Residence at Seton Hall University, a adjunct professor at Seton Hall University , and a radio broadcaster who made several appearances on The Howard Stern Show for 6 years starting in 1985-1991.In 2013, Marshall was diagnosed with [[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE), a degenerative brain disease detected in a growing number of retired NFL players. He has been involved with efforts to spread awareness about the issue and concerns of his fellow teammates and colleagues. mMarshall is currently on the board of Carver Bank of Harlem, PikeTx.com, The Concussion Legacy Foundation, CaringKind of New York, and several other non profits. He is also an Outside Advisor at Rockefeller Capital Management of New York City where he works alongside Edward Moldaver, James Lee and Steve Cohen.

==Early life and college career==
Marshall was born in [[Franklin, Louisiana]].  He was the oldest of seven children, whose father, Leonard Marshall Sr., was a foreman at a shipyard.<ref name="Eskenazi">Eskenazi, Gerald. [https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/01/sports/giants-are-looking-to-marshall-at-defensive-end.html Giants Are Looking To Marshall at Defensive End], ''The New York Times'', May 1, 1983, accessed May 9, 2007.</ref> Initially, Marshall's father did not like the idea of his son playing football, as he thought it was "a stupid game" that would prevent his son from doing more productive things.<ref name="Sr">Litsky, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/04/sports/for-masrshall-solid-level-of-success.html For Masrshall (sic), Solid Level of Success], ''The New York Times'', January 4, 1986, accessed May 12, 2007.</ref>  Later in his life however, Marshall Sr. expressed happiness over his son's success, and even rooted against his beloved [[Dallas Cowboys]] when his son's Giants teams played them.<ref name="Sr" />

Marshall played college football at [[Louisiana State University]] from 1979 to 1982, accumulating 180 tackles and 5 sacks during his four-year career.<ref name="LSU bio">{{cite web|title=LSU|url=http://www.leonardmarshall.com/lsu/|website=leonardmarshall.com|access-date=July 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814050541/http://www.leonardmarshall.com/lsu/|archive-date=August 14, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>  During his senior year, he recorded 53 tackles and 4 sacks<ref name="LSU bio" /> and was named the team's defensive Most Valuable Player.<ref>{{cite web |title=2005 LSU Football Media Guide |url=http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/05fbguide158-176.pdf?SPSID=28717&SPID=2164&DB_OEM_ID=5200 |website=lsusports.net |access-date=May 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816131440/http://www.lsusports.net/src/data/lsu/assets/docs/fb/pdf/05fbguide158-176.pdf?SPSID=28717&SPID=2164&DB_OEM_ID=5200 |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  Marshall also played a crucial role in LSU's 1982 victory over the [[University of Alabama]], making several key tackles and prompting Hall of Fame coach [[Bear Bryant]] to state his regret after the game for not being able to successfully recruit Marshall.<ref>Mulé. pg. 156–59</ref>  The team finished 8–3–1 that year and narrowly lost, 21–20, to the [[University of Nebraska]] in the [[Orange Bowl]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Orange Bowl - All Games |url=http://cfreference.net/cfr/show_all_bowl_games/3 |website=cfreference.net |access-date=May 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927062516/http://cfreference.net/cfr/show_all_bowl_games/3 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Marshall graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in [[Business Administration]].<ref name="about leonard">{{cite web|title=About Leonard|url=http://www.leonardmarshall.com/about-leonard/|website=leonardmarshall.com|access-date=July 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604062734/http://www.leonardmarshall.com/about-leonard/|archive-date=June 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>  He was later inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mule'|first1=Marty|title=Former Tiger Marshall to be Inducted in Louisiana Hall|url=http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1481854|access-date=July 22, 2016|work=lsusports.net|date=June 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816173543/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1481854|archive-date=August 16, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Marshall was selected 37th overall by the [[New York Giants]] in the [[1983 NFL draft]].  He was the fourth defensive lineman taken that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1983 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1983/draft.htm |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>  At the time, [[Los Angeles Raiders]] managing general partner [[Al Davis]] described him as the steal of the draft.<ref name="Litsky"/>

During his rookie season with the Giants, Marshall struggled initially with weight problems, drawing the ire of the coaching staff.<ref name="Litsky">Litsky, Frank (July 31, 1983). [https://www.nytimes.com/1983/07/31/sports/heaviest-giant-is-making-slow-progress.html "Heaviest Giant Is Making Slow Progress"], ''The New York Times'', accessed May 9, 2007.</ref>  After trimming down, Marshall made an impact and played strongly against the run<ref>{{Citation |last=Litsky |first=Frank |date=October 30, 1983 |title=Giants' Draft Picks Provide Optimism |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/30/sports/giants-draft-picks-provide-optimism.html }}</ref> but was unable to mount much of a [[pass rush]] and finished with only 0.5 sacks on the season.  He improved significantly in 1984 however, recording 6.5 sacks.  He also made several key tackles to help the Giants preserve a 16–13 win over the [[Los Angeles Rams]] during the wild-card round of the playoffs.<ref>Anderson, Dave (December 24, 1984). [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/24/sports/giants-halt-late-rams-rally-to-win-16-13-big-leonard-s-big-tackles.html "Giants halt late Rams' rally to win, 16–13; Big Leonard's Big Tackles"], ''The New York Times'', accessed May 9, 2007.</ref>

Marshall's emergence as a pass rusher continued in 1985 as he racked up 15.5 sacks, earning him a trip to the [[Pro Bowl]] and recognition as NFL defensive lineman of the year.<ref name="Sr" />  Marshall repeated both honors in 1986,<ref name="shu" /> teaming up with Hall of Fame linebacker [[Lawrence Taylor]] to form a potent pass rush on the right side of the Giants defense.  He finished the year with 12 sacks, helping the Giants to a 14–2 record and an appearance in [[Super Bowl XXI]] to face off against the [[Denver Broncos]].  Marshall recorded two sacks in the Giants' 39–20 victory, earning him his first [[Super Bowl ring]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Super Bowl XXI - New York Giants vs. Denver Broncos - January 25th, 1987|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198701250den.htm|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref>

Marshall recorded 8 sacks in 10 games played during a strike-shortened [[1987 NFL season|1987 season]] in which the Giants finished 6–9–1.  He compiled another 8 sacks the following year as he split time with fellow defensive end [[John Washington (American football)|John Washington]].<ref>Rhoden, William C. (August 3, 1988). [https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/03/sports/nfl-marshall-feels-competition.html "N.F.L.; Marshall Feels Competition"], ''The New York Times'', accessed March 25, 2008</ref>  During the 1989 season Marshall collected 9.5 sacks, with the Giants losing in the first round of the playoffs that year to the [[Los Angeles Rams]].  Marshall later described the season as a lost opportunity as he felt the Giants had the best team in the league that year.<ref name="Eisen"/>

Marshall engaged in a prolonged contract holdout leading up to the 1990 season.<ref name="holdout">Litsky, Frank (September 15, 1990). [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/15/sports/fottball-marshall-struggles-to-regain-job.html FOOTBALL (sic); Marshall Struggles to Regain Job], ''The New York Times'', accessed March 25, 2008.</ref>  He reported late, and after struggling initially to regain his starting job<ref name="holdout"/> he recovered to finish the year with 4.5 sacks.  The Giants went 13–3 during the regular season and advanced to the [[1990–91 NFL playoffs#NFC: New York Giants 15, San Francisco 49ers 13|NFC Championship Game]] where the two-time defending Super Bowl champion [[San Francisco 49ers]] awaited them.  In the fourth quarter of the game, Marshall hit 49ers quarterback [[Joe Montana]] so hard that he suffered a bruised sternum, bruised stomach, cracked ribs, and a broken hand.<ref name="Montana">[https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2767857 "What if Leonard Marshall had not drilled Joe Montana?"], ESPN.com, February 16, 2007, accessed May 9, 2007.</ref>  Montana was forced to leave the game and would not play another regular season game for almost two years (in December 1992), which ended up being his last game with the 49ers.<ref name="yahoo montana" />  The collision was later ranked as the third most "devastating hit" in NFL history by [[Fox Sports Net]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hench|first1=Kevin|title=Top 10 all-time devastating hits|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/6068216|access-date=May 12, 2007|work=Fox Sports|date=October 24, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106110019/http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/6068216|archive-date=November 6, 2006}}</ref> and the third most "devastating hit" in sports history by ''[[The Best Damn Sports Show Period]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Best Damn's Top 50 Devastating Hits|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/6268878|access-date=May 12, 2007|work=Fox Sports|date=December 14, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116064714/http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/6268878|archive-date=January 16, 2007}}</ref>  It would also turn out to be the moment of Marshall's career that he came to be most well-known for.  Marshall finished the game with four tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles, and was named NFL defensive player of the week.<ref name="Eisen">{{cite news|last1=Eisen|first1=Michael|title=Where are They Now? Leonard Marshall|url=http://www.giants.com/news/eisen/story.asp?story_id=4802|access-date=January 13, 2007|work=giants.com|date=January 6, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050111112132/http://www.giants.com/news/eisen/story.asp?story_id=4802|archive-date=January 11, 2005}}</ref>  The Giants won the game 15–13 and advanced to [[Super Bowl XXV]] where they faced the [[Buffalo Bills]].  Marshall recorded the team's only sack in helping the Giants to a 20–19 victory, earning him his second Super Bowl ring.<ref name="Eisen"/>

Marshall continued to play at a high level in 1991 as he totalled 11 sacks for the year.  In 1992, he clashed with new Giants coach [[Ray Handley]] however, and the two got into a well-publicized shouting match during halftime of a September game against Dallas.<ref>{{cite news | last=Litsky | first=Frank | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/15/sports/pro-football-handley-and-his-defense-tangled-at-halftime.html | title=Handley and His Defense Tangled at Halftime | work=The New York Times | date=September 15, 1992 | access-date=March 25, 2008}}</ref>   He ended up with four sacks on the year and entered into free agency afterwards.  Marshall finished out his career playing a season each for the [[New York Jets]] and [[Washington Redskins]].

Marshall retired from football at the age of 33.  He later signed a ceremonial contract in 1996 that allowed him to retire as a Giant.  Upon signing the contract he stated, "I wanted to retire as a Giant because it's where my career began. They were people who believed in my talents and helped mold me into the man I am today, and I wanted to thank them for that."<ref>{{cite news  | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/19/sports/marshall-goes-home-to-retire-as-a-giant.html | title=Marshall Goes Home To Retire as a Giant | work=The New York Times | date=April 16, 1996 | access-date=May 9, 2007}}</ref>

Marshall was selected to two Pro Bowls, and finished his career with 83.5 sacks in the regular season, and 7 in the postseason.  His total of 79.5 as a Giant ranks him third in team history.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Salomone|first1=Dan|title=Photos: All-Time Giants Sacks Leaders|url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Photos-All-Time-Giants-Sacks-Leaders/db02bf83-c80e-49ed-b67a-67f4f9177c32|access-date=July 23, 2016|work=giants.com|date=June 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011010022/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Photos-All-Time-Giants-Sacks-Leaders/db02bf83-c80e-49ed-b67a-67f4f9177c32|archive-date=October 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Career statistics===
====Regular season====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Season !! Team !! GP !! GS !! Sk !! Tkl !! FF !! FR !! Int !! Sfty
|-
| [[1983 NFL season|1983]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1983 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 14 || 6 || 0.5 || 39 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
| [[1984 NFL season|1984]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1984 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 16 || 11 || 6.5 || 60 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1985 NFL season|1985]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1985 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 16 || 16 || 15.5 || 99 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0
|-
| [[1986 NFL season|1986]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1986 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 16 || 16 || 12.0 || 63 || 3 || 3 || 1 || 0
|-
| [[1987 NFL season|1987]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1987 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 10 || 10 || 8.0 || 68 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1988 NFL season|1988]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1988 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 15 || 14 || 8.0 || 62 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1989 NFL season|1989]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1989 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 16 || 16 || 9.5 || 81 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
| [[1990 NFL season|1990]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1990 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 16 || 6 || 4.5 || 50 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1991 NFL season|1991]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1991 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 16 || 16 || 11.0 || 80 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1992 NFL season|1992]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1992 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 14 || 12 || 4.0 || 58 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1993 NFL season|1993]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1993 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] || 12 || 12 || 2.0 || 37 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1994 NFL season|1994]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1994 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] || 16 || 3 || 2.0 || 17 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| colspan="2" | Career || 177 || 138 || 83.5 || 714 || 9 || 6 || 2 || 2
|}

<small>'''GP''': games played, '''GS''': games started, '''Sk''': sacks, '''Tkl''': combined tackles, '''FF''': forced fumbles, '''FR''': fumbles recovered, '''Int''': interceptions, '''Sfty''': safeties</small><ref>{{cite web|title=Leonard Marshall|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MarsLe00.htm|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref>

====Postseason====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Season !! Team !! GP !! GS !! Sk
|-
| [[1984 NFL season|1984]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1984 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 2 || 2 || 0
|-
| [[1985 NFL season|1985]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1985 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 2 || 2 || 1.0
|-
| [[1986 NFL season|1986]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1986 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 3 || 3 || 3.0
|-
| [[1989 NFL season|1989]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1989 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 1 || 1 || 0
|-
| [[1990 NFL season|1990]] || style="text-align:left" | [[1990 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || 3 || 3 || 3.0
|-
| colspan="2" | Career || 11 || 11 || 7.0
|}

==Life after football==
===Teaching and mentoring===
Marshall hosted the Leonard Marshall Football Academy for a number of years, a football camp teaching the game's fundamentals to youth players between the ages 8 of 18.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gitlin|first1=Marty|title=Lessons On and Off the Field, Courtesy of Leonard Marshall|url=http://www.giants.com/news/special_features/story.asp?story_id=6839|access-date=May 12, 2007|work=giants.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060116034307/http://www.giants.com/news/special_features/story.asp?story_id=6839|archive-date=January 16, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Program|url=http://www.leonardmarshallfootballacademy.com/football-camp-program.htm|website=Leonard Marshall Football Academy|access-date=November 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105095508/http://www.leonardmarshallfootballacademy.com/football-camp-program.htm|archive-date=November 5, 2006}}</ref>

Marshall served as a professor of [[Sports Management]] at Seton Hall's [[Stillman School of Business]] from 2004 to 2009.<ref name="shu">{{cite news|last1=Allen|first1=Shannon|title=Former NFL Player Talks Leadership|url=http://www.shu.edu/news/magazine/2005-fall-static/2005_fall_roamingthehall.html|access-date=January 26, 2007|work=shu.edu|date=November 1, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905175714/http://www.shu.edu/news/magazine/2005-fall-static/2005_fall_roamingthehall.html|archive-date=September 5, 2006}}</ref><ref name="nj coach" />

In 2010, Marshall was named head football coach at [[Hudson Catholic Regional High School]] in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]].<ref name="nj coach">{{cite news|last1=Stanmyre|first1=Matthew|title=Former Giants, Jets lineman Leonard Marshall introduced as head football coach at Hudson Catholic|url=http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/football/index.ssf/2010/05/former_giants_lineman_leonard_marshall_introduced_as_head_football_coach_at_hudson_catholic.html|access-date=July 23, 2016|work=nj.com|date=May 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726234837/http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/football/index.ssf/2010/05/former_giants_lineman_leonard_marshall_introduced_as_head_football_coach_at_hudson_catholic.html|archive-date=July 26, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Cohen|first1=Michael|title=Ex-Giant Leonard Marshall: New Head Football Coach at Hudson Catholic|url=http://blog.nj.com/hudsonhssports/2010/05/ex-giant_leonard_marshall_new.html|access-date=July 23, 2016|work=The Jersey Journal|publisher=nj.com|date=May 3, 2010}}</ref>

===Business activities===
Marshall was founder of Pro Star Athletic, one of the largest sports licensed apparel companies of the 1990s.  He later negotiated the sale of the company to International Apparel Manufactures Group of New York in 1999.<ref name="about leonard" />

Marshall is a partner with the Playbook Franchise Fund, which invests in franchise businesses to provide stable income for high net worth individuals, in particular current and former professional athletes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fox|first1=Michelle|title=Former NFL star's new playbook: Keep pros from going broke|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2014/09/04/nfl-pro-leonard-marshall-looks-to-keep-players-from-going-broke.html|access-date=July 23, 2016|work=CNBC|date=September 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=New Income Fund Offers Professional Athletes Investment Opportunity In Franchising|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-income-fund-offers-professional-athletes-investment-opportunity-in-franchising-275136871.html|agency=PRNewswire|date=September 15, 2014|access-date=July 23, 2014}}</ref>

Marshall was named Vice President of Philanthropic Development for Seeman Holtz Financial Group in 2007.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Seeman Holtz Acquires Former Football Great for Philanthropic Development|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seeman-holtz-acquires-former-football-great-for-philanthropic-development-58464682.html|location=Hollywood, Florida|agency=PR Newswire|date=October 4, 2007|access-date=July 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726235356/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seeman-holtz-acquires-former-football-great-for-philanthropic-development-58464682.html|archive-date=July 26, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>  In 2015, he was named Director of Strategic Initiatives and Brand Ambassador for the publicly traded restaurant chain [[The Original Soup Man]].<ref name="lnkdin">{{cite web|title=Leonard A. Marshall|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardmarshall|website=Linked in|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=LEONARD A. MARSHALL JR|url=http://originalsoupman.com/our-team/leonard-a-marshall-jr|website=originalsoupman.com|access-date=July 23, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402182812/http://originalsoupman.com/our-team/leonard-a-marshall-jr|archive-date=April 2, 2016}}</ref>

Marshall owned and managed The Marshall and Fox Sports Asset Management Group and was CEO and owner of Capital Source Mortgage.<ref name="cannabis pr" />

In 2019 Marshall was named brand ambassador and advisory board member for the Apple Rush beverage company.<ref>{{cite press release |date=February 6, 2019 |title=Apple Rush Company, Inc. appoints former NFL great Leonard Marshall to advisory board and brand ambassador |url=https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/02/06/1711687/0/en/Apple-Rush-Company-Inc-appoints-former-NFL-great-Leonard-Marshall-to-advisory-board-and-brand-ambassador.html |location=Titusville, Florida |agency=GlobeNewswire |access-date=February 24, 2019}}</ref>

===CTE diagnosis and advocacy===
In 2013 Marshall was diagnosed with [[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma that has afflicted many former football players.  Tests for the disease were performed at [[UCLA]] using newly developed technology that allowed detection in living patients for the first time.  Marshall says he began to notice symptoms such as memory loss, severe headaches, and mood swings in 2006, and that his erratic behavior took a major toll on the personal relationships in his life, including his marriage.<ref name="north jersey cte">{{cite news|last1=Roberts|first1=Jeff|title=Former Giant, Jet Leonard Marshall dealing with degenerative brain condition|url=http://www.northjersey.com/sports/former-giant-jet-leonard-marshall-dealing-with-degenerative-brain-condition-1.626572|access-date=July 13, 2016|work=The Record|date=November 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917225505/http://www.northjersey.com/sports/former-giant-jet-leonard-marshall-dealing-with-degenerative-brain-condition-1.626572|archive-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gola|first1=Hank|title=Leonard Marshall calls CTE diagnosis 'A damn good thing'|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/gola-marshall-not-viewing-cte-death-sentence-article-1.1523662|access-date=July 13, 2013|work=New York Daily News|date=November 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Farrar|first1=Doug|title=Leonard Marshall on CTE, Concussion, and the NFL then and now|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/09/02/leonard-marshall-nfl-concussion-movie-cte|access-date=July 13, 2016|work=Sports Illustrated|date=September 2, 2015}}</ref>

Marshall was part of a class action lawsuit against the NFL that initially resulted in a $765 million settlement, but was later amended to allow for a payout expected to exceed $1 billion.<ref name="north jersey cte" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Judge OKs 65-year deal over NFL concussions; could cost $1 billion|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12742265/judge-oks-65-year-deal-nfl-concussions-cost-1-billion|access-date=July 13, 2016|work=ESPN|date=April 22, 2015}}</ref>  Marshall is involved with efforts to educate the public about [[concussion]] and head trauma issues, serving as a speaker for both the Practice Like Pros<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fambrough|first1=Robin|title=Former LSU, Giants star Leonard Marshall tells coaches eradicating concussions is imperative|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/sports/high_schools/article_f4e58036-19e6-51a4-9c3c-4a361e13ed2a.html|access-date=July 14, 2016|work=The New Orleans Advocate|date=August 24, 2015}}</ref> and Brain Unity Trust<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ginsburg|first1=Steve|title=Ex-Super Bowl champ Leonard Marshall to teach about concussions|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-concussions-nfl-idUSKBN0L32GP20150130|access-date=July 13, 2016|work=Reuters|date=January 30, 2015}}</ref> organizations.  He was featured in the documentary ''United States of Football'' examining the subject of concussions in the NFL and youth league football.<ref name="yahoo montana">{{cite news|last1=Schwab|first1=Frank|title=Leonard Marshall, remembered for his big hit on Joe Montana, wants to draw attention to player safety|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/leonard-marshall-remembered-big-hit-joe-montana-wants-200043187--nfl.html|access-date=July 14, 2016|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=September 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111162340/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/leonard-marshall-remembered-big-hit-joe-montana-wants-200043187--nfl.html|archive-date=January 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Marshall also founded the Game Plan Foundation to provide assistance for former athletes suffering from neurological disorders.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Keeffe|first1=Michael|title=Former NY Giants star Leonard Marshall and the Game Plan Foundation on board with PAST for CTE benefits during Super Bowl week|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/marshall-plan-nfl-retirees-cte-fundraisers-article-1.1594828|access-date=July 14, 2016|work=New York Daily News|date=January 28, 2014}}</ref>

In a December 2019 interview, Marshall wondered aloud whether he has been kept out of the Giants' [[New York Giants#Ring of Honor|Ring of Honor]] because of his outspoken advocacy.  He said, “I don’t want to believe that, because I think that when you look back on the powers that be and the gentlemen that are running the team now ... I would believe these men have a lot of respect for what I did as a player, both on and off the field, within the community, and the surrounding area, and what I continue to do to support the New York football Giants. I think that yes, I have been a little outspoken about [CTE], because I feel like I have a platform which allows me to do that, and to help my brothers who can’t help themselves.”<ref>[https://giantswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/26/leonard-marshall-thinks-stance-cte-kept-him-out-new-york-giants-ring-of-honor/ Leonard Marshall thinks stance on CTE has kept him out of Giants' Ring of Honor], ''USA Today'' "Giants Wire," Dan Benton, Dec. 26, 2019.</ref>

===Medical cannabis===
{{See also|Cannabis and sports}}
Marshall uses [[cannabidiol]] (CBD), a chemical extract of the [[cannabis]] plant, to treat the symptoms of CTE that he suffers from.  He credits CBD with significantly improving his quality of life since he first started medicating with it in February 2016.<ref name="si mmj">{{cite news|last1=Kahler|first1=Kalyn|title=Leonard Marshall: A Giant in the World of Medicinal Marijuana|url=http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/06/24/nfl-leonard-marshall-marijuana-hemp|access-date=July 13, 2016|work=The MMBQ|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=June 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Haglage|first1=Abby|title=Football Stars: Weed Helped Our Brain Injuries|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/17/football-stars-weed-helped-our-brain-injuries.html|access-date=Jul 14, 2016|work=The Daily Beast|date=June 17, 2016}}</ref>

Marshall has spoken publicly in support of cannabis as an effective treatment option for mitigating the symptoms of head trauma-related health issues.<ref name="nydn mj" />  He also says it can serve as a safer alternative to the pain-relieving [[opioid]] drugs that many NFL players become addicted to.<ref name="nysd">{{cite news|last1=Russell|first1=David|title=Leonard Marshall On Life With CTE|url=https://www.nysportsday.com/2016/05/26/leonard-marshall-on-life-with-cte/|access-date=July 13, 2016|work=New York Sports Day|date=May 26, 2016}}</ref>  Marshall has stated that the NFL should make allowances for the use of cannabis products as a medical treatment for players.<ref name="si mmj" />

Marshall served as a keynote speaker and moderator at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo in New York City on June 15–17, 2016.<ref name="cannabis pr">{{cite press release|date=April 8, 2016|title=New York: Super Bowl Champion Leonard Marshall To Keynote Cannabis World Congress|url=http://crrh.org/news/node/7300|publisher=Hemp News|access-date=July 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822190721/http://crrh.org/news/node/7300|archive-date=August 22, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="nydn mj">{{cite news|last1=McShane|first1=Larry|title=Ex-Giants star Leonard Marshall aims to blaze a trail for legal pot at NYC weed expo|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/leonard-marshall-blaze-trail-legal-pot-nyc-weed-expo-article-1.2670056|access-date=July 14, 2016|work=New York Daily News|date=June 11, 2016}}</ref>

===Other===
Marshall hosted a radio show on [[WFAN (AM)|WFAN]] in New York.  Named ''The Leonard Marshall Show'', it was recorded in [[Hollywood, Florida]] near his former residence in [[Boca Raton]].<ref name="lmfa bio">{{cite web|title=MR. LEONARD MARSHALL - BIO|url=http://www.leonardmarshallfootballacademy.com/leonard-marshall.htm|website=Leonard Marshall Football Academy|access-date=July 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105095625/http://www.leonardmarshallfootballacademy.com/leonard-marshall.htm|archive-date=November 5, 2006}}</ref>  Marshall currently provides pre-game and post-game commentary for Giants games on WFAN.<ref>{{cite web|title=WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL SITE OF LEONARD MARSHALL|url=http://www.leonardmarshall.com/|website=leonardmarshall.com|access-date=July 24, 2016}}</ref>  During his time as a player, Marshall was a frequent presence on ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]'' and he co-hosted ''NY Football'' with [[Dick Lynch]].<ref name="lnkdin" /><ref name="lmfa bio" />

Marshall is co-author of ''When the Cheering Stops'', a book about the Giants 1990 championship season that was released in 2010.<ref>{{cite book|title=When the Cheering Stops: Bill Parcells, the 1990 New York Giants, and the Price of Greatness|year=2010|isbn=978-1600783821|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/whencheeringstop0000bend|last1=Bendetson|first1=William|last2=Marshall|first2=Leonard}}</ref>

Marshall received a master's degree in Business Finance from [[Seton Hall University]] in 2007.<ref name="about leonard" />

Marshall is a noted philanthropist who has received several awards in recognition of his charitable work.<ref name="lmfa bio" />

Marshall currently resides in [[Paramus, New Jersey]] with his wife, Lisa.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Newark Star Ledger. pg. B5}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[History of the New York Giants (1979–93)]]
*[[List of NFL players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy#Living former players diagnosed with CTE or ALS or reporting symptoms consistent with CTE or ALS|Living former players diagnosed with or reporting symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==General references==
*Mulé, Marty. ''Game of My Life: LSU: Memorable Moments of Tigers Football'', Sports Publishing LLC, 2006 {{ISBN|1-59670-005-X}}

==External links==
* [http://www.leonardmarshall.com/ Official website]

{{Giants Ring of Honor}}
{{Giants1983DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XXI}}
{{Super Bowl XXV}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marshall, Leonard}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:LSU Tigers football players]]
[[Category:New York Giants players]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Mahwah, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Seton Hall University faculty]]
[[Category:People from Franklin, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from St. Mary Parish, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Louisiana]]