Jim Tyrer
Offensive Tackle
Career: 1961-1973
Induction: 1976
Jim Tyrer was a mountain of a man with a Tom Sawyer head resting atop the body of Paul Bunyan. He was also the finest offensive tackle in the history of the NFL.
His crushing blocks and uncanny ability to open a hole for a Chiefs running back helped make him a perennial all-star Performer and a member of the all-time AFL team that was selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The 6-foot-6, 270 pound giant would single handedly take on two defensive linemen, blow them away and lead the charge as Mike Garrett of Ed Podolak would dart through the opening and pick up a big gainer.
"He was the best," former Chiefs coach Hank Stram said. "When they made Jim, they broke the mold."
The nine-time all-star was also a durable performer, playing in 180 consecutive games from 1961-73. The name Tyrer became a synonym for excellence on the football field, and his presence on the line made life much easier for the entire Chiefs backfield.
But the success that came so easy to him on the field didn't follow him after he left the game in 1973. Tragically, he claimed his own life.
But anyone who ever saw the Chiefs play in their glory years will always remember big No. 77 the man who set the standard for offensive tackles.
