Tim played for the Oak Grove Eagles high school varsity football team from 1983 to 1985 where he started on both the offensive and defensive line and was a Mercury-News All-CCS selection.
[citation needed] Ryan started the season opener against Illinois in 1986 as the first true freshman since Riki Ellison in 1978.
For 12 years, he served as a color analyst for Fox NFL telecasts, teaming with various play-by-play announcers including Chris Myers, Sam Rosen, Curt Menefee, and Ron Pitts.
He also worked for Sirius NFL Radio (Channel 88), hosting "Movin' the Chains" from 3-7pm with Pat Kirwan and doing analysis for San Francisco 49ers preseason games.
In January 2014 it was announced that Ryan was leaving FOX Sports to replace Eric Davis as color analyst for the San Francisco 49ers radio network.