James Marsalis (born October 10, 1945) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for nine seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee A&I before playing professionally from 1969 through 1977. He helped the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs beat the defending league champion New York Jets in the first game of the 1969 AFL playoffs, making two interceptions off the Jets' Joe Namath. Following that, he started in the Fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game for the Chiefs, defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the last World Championship game played between the AFL and NFL champions. Marsalis was selected by Pro Football Weekly as the 1969 AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.