Art House Extra | Remembering KC Chiefs Great Jim Tyrer
Art House Extra
September 18, 2020 | John G. McGrath | 2 min read
It would be easy to ignore the story of Jim Tyrer, one of the greatest Kansas City Chiefs, who died by suicide after taking the life of his wife.
It would be lazy to simply dwell on the salacious aspects of his story.
But Kansas City filmmaker Kevin Patrick Allen didn’t choose the easy or lazy way to remember Tyrer. Instead, “A Good Man: The Jim Tyrer Story” focuses on the surviving family’s perseverance in the wake of tragedy.
“He was a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame,” Allen says. “His name was sullied by what happened, and in many ways he hasn’t gotten his due.”
The new documentary isn’t just the story of the rise and tragic fall of a local football hero. It explores how the family, and the broader community, rallied around the four surviving children of the Tyrer family. It also explores the possibility that Tyrer may have suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) resulting from years of head trauma suffered on the gridiron.
“He wasn’t a violent person,” insists former Chiefs tight end Fred Arbanas. “I know damn well Jim had that problem.”
For more, watch the attached video.
Help is Available
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can get help right away:
Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 any time of day. It’s open seven days a week, every day of the year.
If you’re a veteran, you can get help through the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing prompt “1.” Otherwise you will be routed to the nearest local crisis call center.
Text the word “home” to 741741 to immediately be connected to a text counselor.
Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.
Related Stories
Chiefs Pound Out a Better Relationship at Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City Chiefs fans might not notice that the enormous drum at Arrowhead Stadium will have a richer sound this season. But some Native Americans will know.
Kansas City Chiefs Share Arrowhead Stadium Wish List
The Kansas City Chiefs have unveiled an $800 million plan to renovate Arrowhead Stadium if Jackson County voters approve a sales tax extension on April 2.
Weekend Possibilities | Chiefs Super Bowl Watch Parties, Dolly, Nate Bargatze
While nearly every television in the area will be tuned in to Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday evening, we’ve picked out a few sweet Chiefs watch party options. In the meantime, here are some options to fill the time until kick-off. Leading up to Sunday, there’s comedy, a Dolly Parton pop-up and LEGOS at Union…


