Revisiting the HOF case of Jim Tyrer

It’s been 40 years since Jim Tyrer’s career ended at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, who beat Washington in the first round of the 1974 playoffs. Despite his six All-Pro nominations, the end of his career merited little mention – nary a word in the Sporting News.

Tyrer played for Washington in 1974, primarily as a backup, squeezing one last season out of a top-notch career that included nine invitations to the Pro Bowl or AFL All-Star Game. The first 13 years of his career were spent with the Kansas City Chiefs/Dallas Texans franchise that was among the AFL’s strongest, at least during the years he played.

It’s been 34 years since his name popped up in the last item of Sports Illustrated’s Sept. 29, 1980 Roundup section,  where remembrances of his nine All-Star games and two Super Bowl appearances were followed by mention that he had died by suicide after fatally shooting his wife, Martha.

Tyrer did merit mention again a couple times in the early 1980s. His one year as a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist was 1981 and another when he also made a list SI’s Paul Zimmerman compiled – an informal poll of the all-time best offensive linemen.

Though voters are not supposed to consider character and conduct as part of whether or not someone should be enshrined, Tyrer has not made it into the Hall – this statement alone sparking some irony because during his playing days, by most accounts I could find, his character was never in question.

Len Dawson, in an Associated Press story that ran announcing his death, said: “He was always such a strong, stable guy” and “He was a great family man. Doing something like this is completely contrary to his character.”

I’ve seen mention that he may have lived beyond his means, but he’s far from the first professional athlete who has done that. Otherwise Tyrer, who was arguably the best offensive lineman the AFL produced and undoubtedly was at least among the top handful, has faded largely into obscurity – his name probably known better now for his post-NFL business failures and the actions that took his and his wife’s lives.

But his name popped up here at Zoneblitz.com recently. There’s been a fair amount of discussion the last couple weeks over the potential class of 2015 and who the Hall of Fame Senior Committee will select as its two candidates for enshrinement next season. Along with Chuck Howley, Jerry Kramer, Mick Tingelhoff and a bunch of others, a couple wondered if Tyrer’s time might soon come.

I, too, wonder if the time is right. One reason is the recent discussion of concussions suffered by many-a-player during their days on the gridiron and the problems they cause later in life. Dave Duerson, Junior Seau, Andre Watters, Ray Easterling … the list goes on and on. Players whose post-career lives were damaged (allegedly) by the damage they did to themselves while playing the game.

I’m not the first to consider what concussions may have done to Tyrer. The Professional Football Researchers Association pondered the question awhile back.

But it’s notable that Tyrer’s post-career biography reads a bit like the one belonging to Mike Webster, the Steelers’ center who had several business struggles after his playing days ended, wound up homeless and broke and then died in his 50s. The NFL’s Retirement Board ruled in 1999 that head injuries from his playing days left Webster “totally and permanently” disabled, according to media reports, and he struggled with brain issues until his death.

An analysis of Webster’s brain after his death showed signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a recently discovered brain disease found often in athletes, including football players.

We’ll never know if Tyrer’s brain suffered the same kind of trauma, but it’s a likelihood worth noting.

Tyrer’s untimely demise – and his willingness to take his wife’s life in the process – cannot be ignored. But neither should the contributions he made to one of the teams that allowed the AFL to stand its ground against the NFL in those early days of the modern-era.

Nine All Star games? Six All Pro Awards. Two Super Bowls, one of which ranks as one of the all-time championship game upsets of the era? Another championship in the pre-Super Bowl era? One of the best offensive linemen in the league’s history and one who at least some believe would still be competitive in today’s era of giants upfront.

I’m not suggesting that anyone ever offer validation to the actions Tyrer took the morning he ended his life. That was wrong. But it’s been 34 years. Whether he gets enough votes to make it into the Hall of Fame or not, the passage of time warrants that Tyrer’s case at least be brought up for discussion among voters one more time.

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