HOF: Tyrer siblings are grateful

In one of the biggest dramas in the Pro Football Hall of Fame history, former Kansas City Chiefs tackle Jim Tyrer is being discussed for induction — as a finalist for the 2025 Class — for the first time in 44 years after killing his wife and himself at a time he was being considered for first-ballot entry.

The four siblings orphaned by that horrific tragedy fought to re-establish the legacy of the father they knew and loved and whose final act was that of a different man beset by the catastrophic result of what we now recognize as CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

But the Tyrer children knew something changed their dad, even if they couldn’t name it. Their mother’s parents raised them as they continued to fight to re-frame their father’s image.

When he became a finalist for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 in this last week, they reached out to express their gratitude in this video (below) created by Kevin Patrick Allen, who is doing a documentary on the Tyrer tragedy.

CTE is a debilitating, degenerative brain disease found in nearly 91 percent of the over 400 retired football players who, in recent years, have had their brains examined by Boston University’s Concussion Legacy Foundation.

CTE is a disease that leads to depression, anger, impaired judgment, and volatile, irrational behavior. It is widely believed to be caused by the kind of repeated blows to the head that were a staple of the existence of Tyrer and the men who plied his violent trade. Tyer did so with an inferior helmet that was gutted to fit his head, which was said to be the largest in pro football.

The CTE Syndrom was not recognized until after 2004. When Dr. Douglas Paone examined Tyrer on Sept. 12, 1980 he knew something was very wrong, but he couldn’t name it. He was limited by a medical version of linguistic determinism, which has underlying similarities to Orwellian Newspeak: The theory that if a language does not have the means to express specific ideas, its speakers cannot conceptualize them.

Dr. Paone scheduled another appointment for the following Tuesday. But the murder-suicide occurred early Monday morning. Dr. Paone was bothered for decades until the discovery of CTE encouraged him to re-investigage. He and others are 100 percent sure that Tyrer was the victim of CTE. Ironically, he has probably been held out of the Hall of Fame because of something caused by playing football.

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Ron Borges, who presented Tyrer’s credentials to the Senior Blue Ribbon Committee, summed it up well in the first few words of a letter he wrote:

No player not presently in the Hall of Fame has a stronger résumé than former Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Jim Tyrer. Certainly, none of the original 61 senior nominees this year did.

Here are some of Tyrer’s football credentials:

—8× All-AFL (1962–1969)

—7× AFL All-Star (1962–1966, 1968, 1969)

—2× Pro Bowl (1970, 1971)

—First-team All-Pro (1970)

—3× AFL champion (1962, 1966, 1969)

—Super Bowl champion (IV)

—AFL All-Time Team (essentially AFL 1960s All-Decade Team)

—Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame

Many consider Tyrer one of the greatest players in AFL history, which is why he was in line to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer back in 1980. His story's football side is compelling and, technically, selectors are supposed to consider ONLY his performance on the field. That may be easier said than done for some, but there it is.

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It is also compelling that the children he orphaned forgave him and battled to restore his image.

Here are highlights of what the Tyrer siblings had to say this week after learning their father was nominated as a finalist by the Senior Blue Ribbon committee. He must still pass one more selection step by the 49-person committee to be inducted.

Tina Tyrer, oldest daughter

It’s been a long time coming. I appreciate all you voters at the hall and I am saying, thank you.

Stef Tyrer, youngest daughter, talking about her mother

She'd be proud. I mean, I guarantee she. … worked as hard as he did. To get this to get this far, you know what I'm saying? Like, she was with him every step of the way, managing the children, managing whatever, um managing the home, everything else when he was able to get him, you know, dedicate himself to being a player on the field and she lived through it, and I think it should be extremely proud that this is happening.

I think I know she knows he deserves it. I mean, she was a huge football fan. And looking at it just really based on statistics, she wouldn't think that this is finally what should have happened.

Brad Tyrer, eldest son

You know, if we've been so guarded, you know, with the roller coaster that's happened and you know I feel like he should have been in there 44 years ago. We know that his stats are such that he should be in there. And it'll be a full sense of relief when when it is official.

Jason, youngest son

You know, I I had a great life growing up, even know. I say I may have lost two parents, but I feel like I had 15 or 20 parents growing up, and I appreciate everyone that, you know, Step and I on me and helped us out.

Jan Stenerud, former Chiefs teammate

And I was so happy for for for Jim and so happy for his kids, and I know that they know what kind of man was. I'm sure Lenny (Dawson, Chiefs quarterback) would say that he's a big reason why Lenny Dawson is in the Hall of Fame.

Brad Tyrer, eldest son

As exciting as today is until it's official, I wanna just wait for that official announcement.

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(Editor’s Note: This is part of a series on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s quest to select the Class of 2025 with a new process and personnel. Written by Frank Cooney, a Seniors Blue Ribbon Selection Committee member in his 32nd year as a selector.)