James Marsalis (born October 10, 1945) is an American former college and Professional Football player.
He played nine professional seasons as a cornerback for Tennessee State, from the 1969 American Football League season through the 1977 NFL season.
He helped the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs beat the defending World 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 AFL's Kansas City Chiefs, defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the last World Championship game played between the AFL Champions and those of the National Football League.
Marsalis was selected by Pro Football Weekly as the 1969 AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.