[2] Lyon played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd from 1993 to 1996 and was a three-year starter.
[2][3] Lyon helped the Thundering Herd advance to the national championship game his junior year in 1995 by recording a career-high 13 tackles, including one safety, in the team's semifinal victory over McNeese State.
[3] He totaled 91 tackles and nine sacks his senior season in 1996 as the Thundering Herd went 15–0 and won the national championship.
[3] After going undrafted in the 1997 NFL draft, Lyon signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 28, 1997.
[4] Overall, he appeared in 59 regular season games, starting seven, for the Packers, and made 70 combined tackles and eight sacks.