Jim "Hawk" O'Brien was an Irish hurler who played as a goalkeeper for the Tipperary senior team. Born in Thurles, County Tipperary, O'Brien first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene when he first linked up with the Tipperary senior team. He made his senior debut during the 1904 championship. O'Brien went on to play a key role for the team over the next decade, and won two All-Ireland medals and three Munster medals. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion. At club level O'Brien was a six-time championship medallist with Thurles.