His job was solely a production role, but at one match he did his own commentary on a tape recorder and handed it in to his bosses expecting, and indeed initially gaining, little response.

Their regular football commentator (and ITV's tennis man) Gerry Williams was indisposed and on 28 December 1974, Tyler made his commentary debut at The Dell describing a Second Division clash between Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday.

In 1976, Tyler moved to Yorkshire Television and began to make an impression on ITV Sport bosses, who included him in the team for the 1978 World Cup.

It was the frustration of playing second fiddle that saw Tyler search for new opportunities and, despite his own reluctance, he signed a deal with British Satellite Broadcasting's Sports Channel in 1990 at the urging of his agent John Hockey.

He then led the Sky commentary team, spearheading the network's coverage of the FA Premier League from its inception in 1992[3] until the conclusion of the 2022–23 season.

Top matches were shared more equally between Tyler, Alan Parry, Rob Hawthorne and Ian Darke – who had returned to football on a regular basis after ten years prioritising boxing.

In January 2007 he was approached by Setanta to be their lead commentator for live Premiership football in 2007–08, but rejected the move and signed a new contract with Sky Sports.

[10] However, on 8 January 2014, ESPN and Tyler announced they had mutually agreed to part ways ahead of the 2014 World Cup so that he can focus on Premier League games live on Sky Sports.

During Euro 2024, JOF recorded a LIVE Episode, with an audience, in collaboration with John Lewis Oxford Street, to celebrate the tournament and England's successful run to the Final.

In May 1988, he was the commentator on Sky Television's first football match coverage – a friendly between Manchester United and AC Milan at Old Trafford (the channel had previously broadcast externally produced highlights packages).

He contributed to Granada TV's cricket coverage of Roses Match's throughout his time there, and described action from live netball for ITV's World of Sport.

[14] Following the departure of Dowson in late February 2022, Tyler also opted to leave the club, concluding a four-year spell with the Surrey-based side.