Denver Broncos LB Brandon Marshall is blazing his own trail and creating his own path. The second-and much less recognizable- Brandon Marshall to put on a Bronco uniform is making a name for himself both on and off the field in Denver.
After spending time with the Jacksonville Jaguars between the practice squad and active roster in his rookie season in 2012, the linebacker wasn’t sure he was going to make it in the league at all. As a member of the Jaguars, they ended with a dismal 2-14 record that season and Marshall still wasn’t able to make a viable impression to see significant playing time. He was let go but much like in his personal life, did not give up.
Marshall was given the opportunity to sign with the Broncos in 2013 and spent nearly the entire season on the practice squad, but used that time to work on his game and himself. He excelled at learning the plays and earned the scout-team player of the week honors double digit times throughout the 2013 season.
During training camp in 2014, weakside linebacker Danny Trevathan suffered a cracked bone in his leg and Marshall was given the nod as his replacement. Savoring the role, in the first three games he had a combined 30 tackles, two defended passes, one sack and a forced fumble. Trevathan returned in Week 5 only to suffer another crack in the same bone, creating an opportunity for Marshall as the starter for the remainder of the season.
It’s a tall order for a guy with little starting experience to step in and command not only the respect of seasoned veterans, but to have them listen to him when it comes to calling the signals in the huddle. Marshall openly refers to a childhood marked by domestic violence and how living through those times, helped shaped him to be the strong man he is today both in football and in life.
In an interview with Fox Sports, Marshall detailed the night when he was nine years old and his father burst in to where his mother Barbara, his older brother Marcus and two younger cousins were staying. The family was aware of the possible physical threat, and attempted to call the police but Marshall’s father knocked the phone out of his little cousin’s hand. There was a short scuffle in the bathroom between his father and mother and the family fled to a shelter where they knew they would be safe until police could be involved.
Barbara Marshall and her sons spent 26 days in that shelter, 16 years ago with about 30 other women and 60 children. Throughout their time there, they saw and felt firsthand the emotional and physical impacts that domestic violence can cause. “It’s cold in the aspect of there’s a lot of battered people, emotional or emotionless people,” Marshall has said, “It’s hard because everybody’s a little down.”
Due to those difficult times, Barbara Marshall and her sons gained strength and learned perseverance and devotion. Brandon is channeling his life lessons to the football field while his brother Marcus became a social worker. Both boys and their mother came together last fall to aid families who have suffered and gone through similar situations as them, through a clothing drive to collect coats and winter clothing for survivors of domestic violence.
The clothing drive benefited the Rose Andom center, Colorado’s first family justice center which will open its doors this summer. The center, named after Denver entrepreneur and domestic violence survivor Rose Andom, will act as a hub for dozens of public and private agencies to be able to assist domestic violence survivors with the vital services needed. Aside from the successful clothing drive, Marshall also wrote the center a personal check to assist in obtaining the valuable resources needed in the community.
For his incredible benevolent nature, Las Vegas native Marshall was honored on April 29, 2015 as one of the Vegas Dozen. In its twelfth year, this event highlights and showcases 12 men from various backgrounds and professions who exemplify an outstanding personal and professional responsibility to the community.
The NFL could certainly use a few more Brandon Marshall’s, well maybe not in name but in his commitment to helping others and his humble, solid work ethic. He has a great sense of humor about the wide receiver that shares the same moniker and just laughs off all the twitter hate he receives daily meant for the former Bronco-Dolphin-Bear and now NY Jet wideout.
He is just concerned with cementing his legacy as a football player and a philanthropist.
At just 25 years old, he’s off to a great start.
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