By: Connie Cao
Jim Tyrer, an NFL player, shot himself and his wife on September 15, 1980, leaving behind his children and his family’s history. This led to a decrease in his chances of being placed in the National Hall of Fame and leading to a vote about who will be placed in the Hall of Fame.
At Ohio, Jim Tyrer was an outstanding offensive tackle. According to The Washington Post, he spent one season in Washington before his AFL career ended after the 1974 season, and he played for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs from 1961 to 1973. Tyler was a terrific athlete who significantly contributed to the Texans Chief’s victories. He guided his team to three AFL victories and to its Super Bowl IV triumph.
Tyler was referred to in an email as “the most qualified applicant in the senior pool” of the Hall of Fame by NFL player Rick Gosselin, number 19.
“That pool contains hundreds of athletes, but Tyrer is the only one named to the first team of the all-pro squad six times. You should be considered for the Hall of Fame if you excel at what you do for six NFL seasons. In fact, beyond worthy,” stated Rick Gosselin.
His murder-suicide took place in his home, where he shot his wife of 40 years, Martha, before turning the pistol on himself, according to The Washington Post. Three of their four children were asleep when the suicide occurred in the early morning hours.
The family of Jim Tyer describes their reaction to the tragedy. Tyrer’s youngest daughter explains their worry.
Jim Tyrer’s younger daughter remarked, “We all knew something was up. “This dude was entirely different. The younger daughter laments that she wished she had recognized a mistake and taken corrective action, but she didn’t, leaving her with regret and pain.
“There is some remorse even though I was just 12 or 13. Why didn’t we see something, or didn’t we have additional information? He most likely wasn’t aware of what was happening to him, too,” she claimed.
Tyrer’s children still talk about their father’s achievements and recall his career as a football player. They spoke of their father and related tales, but they knew thatTyer’s prospects of being inducted into the Hall of Fame gradually dwindled.