Jim Marsalis
Jim Marsalis, born October 10, 1945, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, is a former American football cornerback who played in the AFL and NFL. He starred at Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State University) from 1965 to 1968 under coach "Big John" Merritt, earning All-American honors in 1968. He made a big impression in college by intercepting three passes in the 1968 Blue-Gray All-Star Classic.
Marsalis was a first-round pick in the 1969 NFL Draft, selected 23rd overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. He quickly became a starter at cornerback and helped the Chiefs win the AFL title in 1969, then reach and win Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings. He also had key plays in the playoffs, including interceptions against Joe Namath in the 1969 AFL playoffs and another in the AFL Championship.
A two-time Pro Bowler (1969, 1970) and the AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1969, Marsalis earned first-team All-Pro honors in 1970. He was known for a physical bump-and-run style of defense that would later be restricted by NFL rules.
Marsalis played for the Chiefs through 1975 and finished his career with the New Orleans Saints in 1977 and 1978. Over his nine-season professional career, he recorded 15 interceptions for 116 yards, 6 fumble recoveries, and 1 sack.
After football, Marsalis was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2023. He later worked as a bank loan officer and briefly coached defensive backs at Middle Georgia.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:47 (CET).