Beneath the Shadow
When a beloved football player commits murder suicide, his orphaned children are left without answers.
An extraordinary true story of legacy and loss.
Why this story? Why now?
Jim Tyrer is a forgotten legend and the man responsible for protecting Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson. He did his job at left tackle better than anyone else between 1961 and 1974, earning nine Pro Bowl selections and six first team All-Pro honors. He played in Super Bowl I, was co-captain of the Super Bowl IV champion Kansas City Chiefs and redefined the left tackle position for future generations. Off the field, he was a savvy businessman, humble friend and a husband who prided himself most on the four children he and wife Martha were raising: Tina, Brad, Stef and Jason. Tight end Fred Arbanas, called his teammate, “The best I’ve ever seen play. He was a great athlete, a super father and a great friend.”
But outside the circle of those who knew and loved him, Tyrer is referenced in two ways: the greatest player not in the Hall of Fame and the guy who murdered his wife. In the pre-dawn hours of September 15, 1980, Tyrer shot and killed Martha before killing himself. Former Kansas City Star Sportswriter Rick Gosselin recalls, “The city was in shock. He was the All-American story.”
For more than four decades, Jim and Martha Tyrer's children lived under the assumption they'd never have answers. They forgave anyway. Then a glimpse at possible redemption appeared.
Beneath the Shadow is a remarkable journey with the Tyrer's as they reflect on who their legendary father was, how they continue to channel loss, and what it means to be proud of your legacy.
Myths
Myth: There is no way to know if Jim Tyrer had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) because it can only be diagnosed posthumously.
Myth: The concluding events of Jim Tyrer’s life overshadow his contributions to football and indicate a profound moral failing, so honoring him is impossible.
Myth: The Tyrer story is coming up now because the children are desperate to honor their father and have pined for his recognition for decades.
Myth: The murder-suicide of Jim and Martha Tyrer was a direct result of financial failures and debt, nothing more.
Myth: Jim and Martha Tyrer were probably fighting the night of the murder-suicide. Alcohol was likely involved.
Myth: Jim Tyrer was probably an abusive husband.
Myth: The Tyrer children have campaigned for decades for their father’s Hall of Fame inclusion.
Myth: The Tyrer children are anti-football because of their father’s tragic end.
Myth: Jim Tyrer isn’t a clear Hall of Fame choice. His accomplishments are merely on par with others. It’s only natural that voters haven't seriously considered his candidacy in 43 years when he was a first-ballot finalist. Why not pick equally qualified but less controversial players?
Myth: Jim Tyrer can’t be a victim of CTE because the disease was only discovered years after his death.
Facts
Fact: While CTE can only be definitively diagnosed posthumously, the same is true of other neurological diseases which are rarely dismissed with the same qualification. However, Dr. Douglas Paone, who saw Jim and Martha Tyrer before the murder-suicide, noted Jim’s diminished capacity and Martha’s heartbreaking statement: “There’s something terribly wrong with him… he’s just not the same.” Dr. Paone is adamant that Tyrer’s symptoms aligned “100 percent” with CTE. Chris Nowinski, founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, places the likelihood at higher than 95 percent based on risk factors from the position Tyrer played, the way he played (head first), his longevity in the sport, and observed symptoms detailed by Tyrer’s eldest son who met with Nowinski.
Fact: Tyrer was beloved for his humility, the way he treated others, his role and example as a husband and father, and his pivotal contributions in shaping the Kansas City Chiefs and the league itself. His lengthy career playing left tackle unwittingly cost both him and his wife, Martha, their lives. Honoring his career offers a fuller understanding of not only his complex legacy but that of his family and the sport of football.
Fact: Journalist/Filmmaker Kevin Patrick Allen approached the Tyrer children to tell their story. He recognized their uniqueness, and his research uncovered new evidence and insights, leading to a more public reckoning with Jim Tyrer’s legacy. The Tyrers have expressed support for Allen’s efforts and participated in interviews but they neither solicited the film, support his efforts financially or gain financially in any proceeds from the film.
Fact: Jim managed his businesses competently and he planned for a life after football. His post-football career business failures and financial troubles, while real, coincided with symptoms linked to neurological issues like CTE.
Fact: There is no evidence of a fight. Autopsies showed not a trace of alcohol in their systems. Martha was asleep when Jim fired at her and missed. He fired a second shot as she awoke that was fatal. Prior to the fateful night, there was no history of domestic violence.
Fact: The Tyrer children and family friends confirm there was no history of abuse. Jim didn’t drink or even curse and his children recall a home filled with love.
Fact: The Tyrer children recognize their father’s Hall of Fame-worthy career but they’ve declined to campaign for his inclusion, they rejected guidance to independently sue professional football, and they chose not to join the class action lawsuit brought by players against the NFL.
Fact: Both Brad and Jason Tyrer played Division I college football on scholarships. The family has long maintained a respectful relationship with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Fact: There is no "tie" to break. Tyrer’s achievements—six first-team All-Pro selections, record-setting durability, and his pioneering role at the left tackle position—set him far apart from players whose stories are not controversial. Fellow Hall of Famers he competed against, like Houston Oilers defensive end Elvin Bethea, unequivocally state "He was the preeminent left tackle in all of football. All other blockers I faced in the NFL were mediocre compared to him." Historian Michael Socolow is not alone in referencing Tyrer as the greatest player not in the Hall of Fame.
Fact: CTE's existence should not be confused with CTE''s discovery. Disease states, naturally, impact populations before researchers quantify and name them. Tyrer exhibited symptoms like paranoia, depression, and personality changes that loved ones and psychological and medical professionals struggled to understand.
