James Robert Lynch (August 28, 1945 – July 21, 2022) was an American football linebacker. Lynch played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, where he was named an All-American and won the Maxwell Award in 1966. Lynch is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Lynch went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He was an AFL All-Star in 1968 and a member of the Super Bowl IV championship team.