Marshal Shirk played college football at famed UCLA and joined the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1965. Shirk would go to play 7 seasons for the Rough Riders (1965-71), establishing himself as a tough, aggressive deensive tackle. Shirk won three East All-Star selections at defensive tackle (1968, 1969 and 1970). Shirk was named Ottawa's Outstanding Lineman in 1970 and 1971 as well as being the team's nominee for the CFL's Outstanding Lineman in 1971. Shirk played in three Grey Cup games, winning two (1968 and 1969) and losting one (1966). Shirk was released by Ottawa in July of 1972 during training camp in favour of Tom Laputka. Shirk's performance had dropped off, many speculated due to the death of his close friend and deensive line partner, Billy Joe Booth in a plane crash in June of that year.
Marshal Shirk in Sports Illustrated - 1961
Shirk On Sidelines With Flu - October 20, 1966
October 7, 1972: Game Over - The Abrupt End of Marshall Shirk's Football Career
| Year | Team | GP | Int | Yds | Avg | TDInt | Long | FR | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | FF | OFR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | OTT | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1966 | OTT | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1967 | OTT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1968 | OTT | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1969 | OTT | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1970 | OTT | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 1.3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1971 | OTT | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
No stats were kept during hose years for deensive tackles and quarterback sacks.
