Ed Marion, 81, storied NFL linesman

It was 1977 AND the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders were in a tight contest for the American Conference championship.

Denver was leading, 7-3, in the third quarter when a Broncos running back fumbled at the Raiders' 1-yard line. Jack Tatum recovered. Raider ball. Or so everybody watching television thought.

But head linesman Ed Marion didn't see the fumble. Therefore, it never happened. On the next play, the Broncos scored to boost its lead to 14-3, and would win, 21-17, and go to Super Bowl XII in New Orleans.

One of the biggest arguments for instant replay, which didn't exist then, was that play. The Raiders might have hated Marion, but he was unrepentant.

Ed Marion, an NFL official for 28 years and head linesman in three Super Bowls, died Monday at age 81. He was a longtime resident of Exton, in Chester County.

Five years after that disputed call, Daily News sportswriter Ray Didinger credited Marion with "the best call by an official in a crucial game."

Marion correctly ruled that Pittsburgh's Larry Brown was down before he fumbled a pass reception against Minnesota late in Super Bowl IX, Didinger wrote.

Controversy is the demon that dogs football officials in the big leagues, and Ed was not immune.

In 1980, he called a fumble on the great Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears in a game against Atlanta. Payton was so incensed, he grabbed Marion's arm and was ejected from the game and fined $200.

But Ed was respected enough by fellow officials to be elected executive director of the NFL Officials Association.

The longtime Philadelphia area resident was frequently called upon by the Eagles to attend training camp and advise linemen on the rules for blocking and tackling, and he spoke often before area civic groups on his experiences.

Ed was in the league from 1960 to 1987 and worked playoff games in 20 consecutive seasons. He officiated in the 1971, 1975 and 1977 Super Bowls.

He is survived by his wife, Naomi, and four daughters. *

The Associated Press contributed to this report.