He played college football at Troy and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2001.

He spent two seasons on the practice squad in Kansas City, then played in NFL Europe and in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Four years later, he kicked another overtime field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011–12 NFC Championship Game, which qualified the Giants for Super Bowl XLVI.

He experienced his best success with the Giants, winning Super Bowl championships in 2007 and 2011, defeating the New England Patriots in both games.

He then kicked a 31-yard chip shot in overtime in the NFC Championship game to advance the New York Giants to Super Bowl XLVI in 2011.

Signed as an undrafted free agent, Tynes spent the first two seasons with the Chiefs but only on their practice squad.

[4] On 17 July 2013, the Buccaneers signed Tynes to a one-year contract worth $905,000 after Connor Barth suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.

[8] He contracted MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in August 2013, after his toe failed to heal from surgery to remove an ingrown toenail.

[9] After spending the entire season on injured reserve, Tynes was released on 11 March 2014,[10] and the infection effectively ended his NFL career.

Tynes sued the Buccaneers in 2015 for $20 million, claiming that unsanitary conditions led to his MRSA infection.

[14] His other brother, Mark, is serving 27 years in federal prison on drug and witness intimidation charges stemming from his 2004 involvement in a plan to move 3,600 pounds (1,600 kg) of marijuana between Texas and Florida.