Tyrer was named AFL Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1969. He and Ed Budde at guard made a powerful left side. In Super Bowl IV, Tyrer and Budde opened holes for Chiefs running backs against the Minnesota Vikings' opposing defensive linemen Jim Marshall and Alan Page, respectively, gaining 151 yards on 42 carries (3.6 yards per attempt) and 122 net passing yards in the team's upset 23–7 victory.
At the retirement press conference for former Chief linemate Dave Hill in Kansas City in June 1975, Tyrer also announced his retirement.[2]
Family
Tyrer's sons, Brad and Jason, went on to college football careers in the Big Eight Conference. Brad played for Nebraska under head coach Tom Osborne from 1983 to 1988, starting his junior and senior seasons. Tyrer and the Blackshirts defense led Nebraska to a win over LSU in the 1987 Sugar Bowl, a close loss to Florida State in the 1988 Fiesta Bowl, and a Big Eight title in 1988 and an appearance in the 1989 Orange Bowl. Jason was a defensive end for Kansas under head coach Glen Mason from 1988 to 1992.
After football
Remaining in the Kansas City area following his retirement, Tyrer turned down an opportunity to serve as a scout for the Chiefs. He then spent the next three years as a salesman before tiring of the constant travel, and invested in a tire business. However, a mild winter proved to be financially disastrous for Tyrer, who moved on to work for Amway.
Death
This series of business misfortunes culminated in the early hours of September 15, 1980, when Tyrer shot and killed his wife Martha, then died by suicide by turning the gun on himself.[3][4][5][6] The day before, he had attended a Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium with his ten-year-old son Jason.[7]
In 2021, the documentary "A Good Man: The Jim Tyrer Story" by Kansas City filmmaker Kevin Patrick Allen was released.[8] In recent years, it has been speculated that Tyrer may have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death, as his doctor (who examined Tyrer two days before his death) has gone on to theorize that Tyrer's reports about having headaches, abdominal pain and a general feeling of not being himself, although CTE (involving brain trauma) was not known about at the time. Tyrer played in an era where lineman were expected to use their head as a battering ram, and his daughter has stated that the custom helmet he used for his large frame (6-7, 290 pounds) had a half-inch of cardboard lining with no suspension.[9]
In 2024, he was named as a Seniors finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, marking the first time he has been considered by the full board since 1981.[10] Tyrer is one of only two eligible players with at least six All-Pro selections to not be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[11]