Arthur Marshall Cause of Death: Former Giants and Broncos receiver dies at 57

Arthur Marshall , the former NFL receiver whose unlikely path to the league included one of the most unusual touchdown passes of his era, has died at 57 after a battle with stomach cancer.

Marshall , who spent five seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos and New York Giants , died Wednesday. His death prompted tributes in his native Georgia, where he first emerged as a standout athlete before eventually reaching the professional ranks.

His obituary remembered a man whose impact stretched well beyond football.

“A former professional NFL athlete, Arthur carried strength and determination throughout his life,” it read. “But those who knew him best will remember him most for the size of his heart.

"He was a giver by nature-generous with his time, love, encouragement, and support. He genuinely cared for people and found joy in helping others.”

Marshall grew up in Hephzibah, Georgia, before playing college football for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1988 through 1991. He averaged 17.7 yards per reception during his college career but wasn't selected in the 1992 NFL Draft.

Denver gave him his opportunity as an undrafted free agent, and Marshall quickly showed why he belonged.

One throw and a place in NFL record book

Marshall ’s most memorable moment came during his rookie season against the Dallas Cowboys in December 1992.

On a trick play, the receiver threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman , tying the NFL record at the time for the longest touchdown completion by a non-quarterback.

The score briefly put Denver ahead of a Dallas team led by Troy Aikman before the Cowboys eventually won. Marshall was far more than a gadget-play option during his two seasons with the Broncos .

He caught 54 passes for 853 yards and three touchdowns while also contributing in the return game. Remarkably, he finished his Denver tenure having thrown two touchdown passes of his own.

The Broncos traded him to the Giants before the 1994 season. Marshall spent his final three NFL campaigns in New York, recording another 414 receiving yards and a touchdown while continuing to work on special teams.

He finished his career with 87 receptions for 1,267 yards, four receiving touchdowns and 2,303 all-purpose yards.

The player who made it out

Marshall ’s rise from a small Georgia community to the NFL remained a source of pride at Hephzibah High School , which inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2003.

“When he touched the field, you knew he was on the field,” current Hephzibah coach Daniel Dorsey told Fox 54. “He made a difference, whether it was offense, defense or special teams. He was just a special player all around.”

Dorsey said Marshall ’s progression from Hephzibah to Georgia and eventually the NFL “speaks volumes to who he is and the mountains that you can climb if you just put your mind to it.”

Marshall ’s post-playing life included a federal bank fraud case. He pleaded guilty to two counts and was sentenced in 2010 to 69 months in prison, along with five years of supervised release and more than $3.6 million in restitution.

His football story, however, remains defined by persistence as an undrafted player who fought his way onto an NFL roster, became a productive receiver and produced a record-tying play that remains part of his legacy.