In all sports, each new class of their respective fame temple leads to a fiery debate. This year for the Professional football renowned temple is not different.
But for a finalist, the circumstances surrounding his place in Canton are more than a simple case of championships and statistics. Its place in the Hall of Fame will probably come down to a tragic case of suicide murder.
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There are five finalists in total for the senior class of the 2025 Pro Football Temple, including a coach and a contributor. Voting players are Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer.
Of the three, the biggest questions surround Tyrer.
Who is Jim Tyrer?
The Kansas City chiefs approach Jim Tyrer and Miami Dolphins Defensive Mel Branch in action at Orange Bowl on September 28, 1968. (Rod Hanna-USA today Sport)
Born in Newark, Ohio, on February 25, 1939, Jim Tyrer was widely considered as one of the most dominant offensive plates of his time.
After playing football at Ohio State, where he was a choice in America, Tyrer began his career as a playing player with the Texans of Dallas of the American Football League in 1961. Field, who postponed the move of the ‘ team at Kansas City and the possible merger with the NFL.
Tyrer was triple AFL champion and nine times AFL All-Star, and he helped the Chiefs to win the first Franchise Super Bowl in 1970. He was a starter in each of his 13 seasons with chefs, Playing in 180 consecutive games for for the third longest sequence in the history of the team.
Tyrer was selected as a member of the team in all decade of AFL in the 1960s and is part of the temple of fame of chiefs. He played his last season for Washington in 1974.
There is no doubt that Tyrer’s career is worthy of consideration for the temple of renown of professional football, but the tragic events which took place on September 15, 1980 kept his name on the ballot for more than 40 years .
The former NFL star, Frank Wycheck, suffered from CTE before death, say the researchers
Tyrer’s death
The offensive line player Jim Tyrer of Kansas City Chiefs on the sidelines in a match on September 28, 1970 against the colts at the Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. (Diamond / Getty Images images)
Tyrer was a finalist in the fame of fame during his first year of eligibility and was to be largely selected. But in the fall of 1980, it would change.
According to KCTV reports At the time, Tyrer shot his wife, Martha, who died just after 4 am in their house’s room while their four children were sleeping before committing suicide. He was 41 years old and Martha was 40 years old.
Although those who are closest to the family, including teammates, were shocked by the news, reports would soon surface that there were problems.
Report Espn Mark Fainaru-Wada said NPR Last week, Tyrer had a hard time finding work after the end of his player career and that the family was experiencing financial difficulties. There were also rumors that Tyrer was dealing with “depression” and “paranoia”.
But during the almost 45 years that have passed and with the development of science with regard to the long -term effects of the game in contact sports, many support that Tyrer probably suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( Cte).
Dr. Doug Paone, who treated Tyrer a few days before the suicide murder, told Kansas City Star’s Vahe Gregorian in December that he was convinced that Tyrer had a CTE.
“If he walks like a duck, he charlats, he has webbed feet and the water is triggered, it is not a zebra: it’s CTE,” he said. “(Tyrer) would be the poster for CTE.”
What the voters say
The offensive platform of Kansas City Jim Tyrer chiefs on the sidelines of a match on October 2, 1971. (Denver Post via Getty Images)
At least three of the five senior finalists will be elected to the pro football hall. They will need 80% of the votes of the selection committee, which will be authorized to vote for three finalists. If none receives this percentage, the only finalist with the most votes will be inducted in class 2025.
To Tyrer, the voters seem divided. ESPN spoke to some Last month, when Tyrer was appointed finalist.
“It is morally odious and unacceptable to put a murderer in the fame of fame if you have the power to do otherwise,” said the longtime voter Jason Cole at the point of sale, adding that he has “a compassion Incredible for the family “.
Cole noted that the CTE considered “would open a giant verse can”.
In front of this, Grégorian told ESPN that CTE could be used to explain the tragedy that led Tyrer and the premature death of his wife.
“I think that when you see that it is a man who has lived for decades a life admired by many, that this change in him was caused by [CTE]”Gregorian said:” … I think I say, it is because of serious brain damage, not being a deliberate act of this person. I don’t know, it makes me look differently. “”
The statutes of the selection process allow voters to consider any contribution outside the field – good or bad – in their decision -making. The 2025 class will be announced next Thursday to the honors of the NFL in New Orleans before Super Bowl Lix.
