James Robert Lynch (born August 28, 1945) is a former American football linebacker who spent his entire eleven-year professional career (1967-1977) with Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL).
Early years
Lynch attended Lima Central Catholic High School in Lima, Ohio and the University of Notre Dame. He led Notre Dame in tackles in 1965 with 108 and in 1966 with 106. He was the defensive captain of the 1966 National Champion Fighting Irish team. Lynch also won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best college football player in 1966.
Chief career
From 1967 to 1977, Lynch was a right outside linebacker, playing alongside middle linebacker Willie Lanier and left outside linebacker Bobby Bell, both Pro Football Hall of Famers. These linebackers were important elements to lead the Chiefs' defense in their 1969 championship season, en route to winning their first and only AFL-NFL World Championship (Super Bowl IV).
Lynch finished his career with 17 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries. He scored 1 touchdown and was selected to play in the 1968 AFL All-Star Game. In 1990, Lynch was inducted into the Chiefs' Hall of Fame.
After football
In 2006, Lynch was interviewed for the NFL Network documentary America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions chronicling the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs AFL and World Championship season. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.